Clippers at Grizzlies
THE STORY: The Memphis Grizzlies’ push to secure a postseason bid is being aided greatly by the NBA’s schedule makers. The Grizzlies dispatched the league’s second-worst team in their last outing and will try to match a season high with their fifth straight victory when they host the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday. The Clippers own the third-fewest wins in the Western Conference and already have their eyes set on next season.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Net Prime Ticket, SportSouth
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (44-33): Memphis enters Tuesday’s showdown in a tie with New Orleans for the final two spots in the West, three games clear of Houston in ninth with five games left. Of those five, two come against the Clippers and another against bottom-feeding Sacramento. Reigning conference player of the week Zach Randolph scored 22 points and O.J. Mayo had 20 off the bench in the Grizzlies’ 106-89 victory over Minnesota on Saturday, their sixth in a row at home. Thanks to Randolph and Marc Gasol, the Grizzlies are leading the league by averaging 51.3 points in the paint.
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (30-47): Besides Blake Griffin being the clear front-runner for Rookie of the Year honors, there hasn’t been much for the Clippers to celebrate this season. Los Angeles is headed for the lottery again, only they already traded that high pick in deal to dump Baron Davis at the deadline. It could be a rough finish for the Clippers, who have lost three in a row on the road and kick off a four-game trip. They will, however, carry some positive momentum into Tuesday’s tilt, having defeated Oklahoma City 98-92 on Saturday. Griffin finished with 26 points and 16 rebounds to notch his fourth straight double-double.
WHO’S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Randolph is averaging 24.0 points and 12.5 rebounds on 55 percent shooting in two meetings against the Clippers this year. Forward Shane Battier has struggled fitting in with the Grizzlies since being acquired at the trade deadline, as he is averaging 4.4 points on 39 percent shooting. He has two or less points in six of his last eight outings. Griffin is averaging 24.3 points and 11.8 rebounds over his past eight following his worst statistical stretch over a five-game period. Clippers guard Mo Williams enters having missed 16 of 20 3-pointers.
KEY STATISTIC: 49.4 - that’s what Memphis is shooting from the floor since the All-Star break, the second-highest mark in the NBA.
SEASON SERIES: The Grizzlies have taken the first two of the four-game series. Randolph had 18 points and 13 rebounds in an 84-83 road win on Dec. 11. Memphis followed with a 105-82 rout at home on March 14, aided by Randolph’s 30 and 12. Memphis has won four of five in the series.
KEY INJURIES: MEMPHIS: G Jason Williams (back); G Xavier Henry (knee). LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS: C Chris Kaman (illness); F Ryan Gomes (knee).
LAST WORD: "Of course, he's our MVP," said Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins of Randolph. "Ever since he's been here we've been a good team. Last year we didn't have enough to get over the hump. We didn't make it to .500, but we were pretty close. We made a 16-game improvement, and now we're on the cusp of doing something special."