Chris Paul and Blake Griffin argued on the court on Tuesday despite having a 23-point lead at the time.

"I hate when stuff goes unsaid," Doc Rivers said. "They were upset over one of the plays. Blake was more upset at himself. I didn't mind it at all ... They were up huge and they were mad at a miscommunicated play, and I kind of like that.

"You need it. I would say a year ago whenever anybody got upset over a play or something no one talked to each other. This group has really grown. We're just so much better at that. That gives you a chance, and in the West, all you can ask for is a chance."

Paul and Griffin engaged in an animated discussion in front of the Clippers' bench after Griffin was fouled while shooting a 3-pointer with less than one second left in the first half. After teammates tried to mediate the conversation, Paul walked toward the bench and Griffin walked toward the court.

"To me, personally, I think it's a great thing for two guys like that to not settle for being up by 23 going into the locker room," Griffin said. "It's probably a perfectionist thing on both of our parts, but I think it's a great thing. The fact that we're out there talking about that last play shows we've made a lot of growth as a team."

Griffin said the conversation "was about the last couple of plays" down the stretch of the first half.