Clippers hand Grizzlies their fourth straight loss
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Austin Rivers scored 20 points, Chris Paul added 19, J.J. Redick had 15 and Blake Griffin posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 114-98 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies Thursday night at FedExForum.
The loss was a season-long fourth straight for the Grizzlies, who fell to 2-5 since the All-Star break and three games behind the fifth-place Clippers in the Western Conference.
Marc Gasol had 20 points to lead the Grizzlies and reserve Zach Randolph contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds. Mike Conley finished with 13, but was only 3 of 14 shooting.
Memphis never seriously threatened after falling behind by 13 early in the third quarter as it was outrebounded and outshot. Los Angeles upped its advantage to 22 points early in the fourth after a pair of free throws from Rivers.
The Clippers shot 51.3 percent and improved to 4-5 since the All-Star break. Memphis shot 44.6 percent and was outrebounded, 47-34.
Trailing by 11 entering the third quarter, the Grizzlies were unable to put together a run to cut into the double-digit lead as Conley struggled to find his shooting touch. Conley had only seven points through three quarters and was 1 of 11 shooting.
The Clippers kept building their lead behind Paul, Griffin and Reddick. Jamal Crawford's halfcourt shot to end the third period gave Los Angeles its biggest lead at 85-65.
The Clippers led 54-45 at the half behind 24 bench points, including 11 from Rivers.
The reserves allowed Los Angeles to overcome a 15-12 deficit midway through the first quarter by directing a 12-4 run. Rivers had seven of the points capped by a 3-pointer from the left corner for a 24-19 advantage.
The Clippers never trailed the remainder of the half and extended their lead to 13 points late in the second quarter after a nine-point flurry by Reddick. Reddick scored his nine points on successive possessions: a conventional three-point play, three free throws and a 3-pointer.
Memphis, averaging 9.2 3-pointers per game, missed each of its six attempts from beyond the arc in the opening half and was held to 41.5 percent shooting. The Clippers shot 46.7 percent and outrebounded the Grizzlies, 28-20.
NOTES: Grizzlies F Chandler Parsons did not play (recovery day/left knee soreness). Parsons has struggled throughout the season with knee issues and is averaging only 6.2 points in 33 games, all of which he has started. He is shooting 34 percent and has made only eight of his last 29 shot attempts. ... The Clippers had allowed two of Grizzlies G Mike Conley's eight 30-point games this season, but held him to 13 points. Conley, averaging 24.7 points in the team's previous 10 games, missed 10 of his first 11 shots. ... Grizzlies F James Ennis, who started in place of Parsons, picked up four fouls in the first half, including three in a 27-second span of the second quarter.