Hawks fans erupt with 'Where's Chris Paul?!' chant in Clippers' first game since shocking move to split with veteran

A group of Atlanta Hawks fans couldn’t resist on Wednesday night.

A section of fans sitting near the Los Angeles Clippers bench at State Farm Arena started heckling the team over their surprise decision to part with veteran Chris Paul just hours earlier.

The Clippers sent Paul home from their road trip late on Tuesday night, seemingly out of nowhere, and announced that they were parting ways with the veteran guard. Paul, a future Hall of Famer and undoubtedly one of the best point guards to ever play in the league, had already announced that he was going to retire after this season, too. The 40-year-old, now in his 21st season in the NBA, signed a one-year, $3.6 million deal to reunite with the Clippers this past offseason.

Paul, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, was apparently feuding with the team and coach Tyronn Lue. Paul’s leadership style apparently “clashed” with the team, and he hadn’t spoken with Lue for “several weeks.” Paul reportedly requested a meeting with Lue to discuss the perception that he was a negative presence on the team, but Lue refused.

"I don't like it," Lue said of the Paul situation before the game. "It just didn't work out like we thought it would. I don't like it for CP, but it's just not a good fit. He understood that. The organization, they made the choice. We'll go forward, we've gotta see what we can do."

Paul has averaged 2.9 points and 3.3 assists per game this season while coming off the bench. He had eight points and three assists in 15 minutes in Monday’s loss to the Miami Heat in South Florida.

"I don't think it'll necessarily help our team. I don't think the reason why we're 5-16 is because of CP's play," Lue said of Paul before the game. "I just think that it wasn't a good fit for what he was looking for. It is what it is.

"Do I want to see CP go out like this? No. I have a lot of respect for him, he's been a friend of mine over the years. You never want to see a great go out like this, but I'm pretty sure he will find something. He's a great player."

Remarkably, the Clippers erupted to a blowout win in their first without Paul around. The team rolled to a 115-92 victory, which snapped a five-game losing skid and brought them to 6-16 on the season — though that's still one of the worst records in the Western Conference.

James Harden led the way with 27 points and nine assists, and Kawhi Leoanrd added 21 points and six rebounds. Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 21 points, and Dyson Daniels added 15 points. The Hawks have now lost back-to-back games and sit at 13-10.

The Clippers will continue their road trip next on Friday night in Memphis.