Rivers leads Clippers past Grizzlies
LOS ANGELES -- Austin Rivers scored a game-high 28 points and the Los Angeles Clippers earned a 115-106 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night at Staples Center.
Jamal Crawford contributed 22 points, while DeAndre Jordan collected 18 points and 20 rebounds for the Clippers (24-14). J.J. Redick added 19 points and Raymond Felton chipped in 11 points.
Marc Gasol had 23 points for the Grizzlies (22-16), who were playing the second end of a back-to-back at Staples. The Grizzlies lost 116-102 to the Lakers on Tuesday.
Memphis point guard Mike Conley scored 17 points, handed out 12 assists and grabbed seven rebounds. Guard Tony Allen and forward Zach Randolph finished with 13 points apiece. Vince Carter had 11 points and seven boards for the Grizzlies.
Clippers point guard Chris Paul (sore left hamstring) missed his fourth straight game.
Two foul shots by Gasol pulled the Grizzlies within 100-98 with 2:40 remaining, but Jordan converted a basket 16 seconds later for a four-point Clippers' lead.
Conley made one of two free throws to slice the margin to three, but Rivers answered with a floater in the lane to put the Clippers up 104-99 with 1:39 left.
After the Grizzlies failed to convert on their next possession, Conley fouled Rivers behind the 3-point arc with 51.3 seconds left. Rivers made all three free throws to seal it for Los Angeles, which has won two of three meetings between the two teams.
The Clippers rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to take the lead in the third quarter. A jumper by Redick capped an 11-0 run to cut the margin to 71-70 with 5:39 remaining in the third. A 3-pointer by Rivers at 3:27 lifted Los Angeles to a 77-75 lead. The Clippers carried an 89-85 edge heading into the final quarter.
The Grizzlies outscored the Clippers 34-23 in the second quarter to take a 63-53 lead at the break. Memphis used its 3-point shooting in the first half, connecting on 9 of 16 attempts (56.3 percent) to 4 of 11 (36.4 percent) for Los Angeles.
Overall, the Grizzlies managed just two treys in the second and finished 11 of 28 (39.3 percent) from 3-point range. The Clippers were 9 of 23 (39.1 percent).
NOTES: Clippers PG Chris Paul (sore left hamstring) is close to returning. He participated in a vigorous workout earlier Wednesday and looked "terrific," coach Doc Rivers said. "Obviously, if it was a playoff game, Chris would be playing, but we just want to make sure he doesn't have any soreness." Paul could return for Friday's game at Sacramento. ... Grizzlies F JaMychal Green sat out after suffering a facial injury in Tuesday's loss to the Lakers. He was on the receiving end of an unintentional elbow from Lakers C Timofey Mozgov. Green is listed as day to day. ... Clippers rookie F Brice Johnson (acute herniated disc), who hasn't played this season, practiced for the first time since getting hurt in a preseason game in October. ... Memphis caps a four-game road swing at Golden State on Friday.