|
 Austin Rivers scored 14 points to lead six Los Angeles players in
double figures, and the Clippers pounded the Grizzlies 110-84 at
Staples Center.
Defense is what makes the world go round, according to Clippers
coach Doc Rivers, and his club exhibited plenty of it against
Memphis.
"You can see how focused we have been. Really good," Doc Rivers
said. "We are starting to take away individual strengths. If a guy
goes right, you can see everybody is low enough to the right arm.
Our talk is better. I love the way we're playing defense right now."
Los Angeles point guard Chris Paul had 12 points and 13 assists,
Blake Griffin contributed 12 points and seven rebounds, and Jeff
Green collected 13 points. J.J. Redick and Paul Pierce each scored
11 points for the Clippers, who have won six in a row and will enter
the playoffs as the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference.
The Clippers (53-28) rested all of their starters in the fourth
quarter.
 "Our defense was pretty consistent all night," Paul said. "I think
the ball movement was great. We shared the ball. Most of all, we are
healthy."
Zach Randolph scored 14 points and Jarell Martin had 12 for the
Grizzlies (42-39). Lance Stephenson and Xavier Munford chipped in 11
points each.
Memphis, which has dropped nine of its last 10, fell into a
sixth-place tie with the Dallas Mavericks (42-39) in the Western
playoff chase
Though the Grizzlies are only a game back of the fifth-place Trail
Blazers, they can't catch Portland. The Grizzlies close out their
regular season Wednesday night in Oakland, where they will meet the
Golden State Warriors, who will be going for an NBA-record 73rd win
of the season.
"Tomorrow night is for history," Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger said.
"I have no doubt we will be motivated to play."
Los Angeles used its motivation in the first half to pull away from
the undermanned Grizzlies, who were without Tony Allen due to a sore
left hamstring. Memphis previously lost stars Marc Gasol and Mike
Conley for the season.
"It is great that we took care of business tonight," Griffin said.
"Memphis is clearly banged up."
Despite the injuries that have plagued Memphis most of the season,
Joerger was disappointed with the effort.
"We did not play with enough force tonight," Joerger said. "We had
some bad early turnovers, and I think once the Clippers felt it was
going to be easier for them, they relaxed and got very confident
with their shooting. It was a rough night for us, but the Clippers
are a very tough team, and I wish them the best of luck in the
playoffs."
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Los Angeles led 29-22 after the opening quarter before seizing
control in the second period. The Clippers, who outscored the
Grizzlies 32-21 in the second, rolled to a 61-43 advantage at the
break largely behind their shooting. They shot 59.5 percent from the
floor and converted seven of 11 (63.6 percent) from 3-point range.
They limited the Grizzlies to 38.6 percent shooting and only three
of 12 3-pointers (25 percent).
For the game, the Clippers made 54.7 percent to 40.7 percent for the
Grizzlies. Los Angeles hit 12 of 25 3-pointers to five of 20 for
Memphis. The Clippers also forced 16 turnovers by the Grizzlies
while committing 11.
Memphis never made a run in the second half.
"It was definitely a winnable game, but they were hitting shots and
we could not hit shots," said Randolph, who made seven of 15
attempts. "They ran right past us and just had more energy, which is
why they won the game."
Redick scored all of his points in the first half, connecting on
four of eight field-goal attempts and three of six treys. The effort
from long distance allowed him to tie his franchise record for
3-pointers with 200.
Clippers guard Jamal Crawford got the night off Tuesday, and Paul,
Redick, DeAndre Jordan, Griffin and Crawford will not play in
Wednesday's regular-season finale at Phoenix.
NOTES: Los Angeles will open the postseason against either the Trail
Blazers or the Mavericks. Memphis will face either the second-seeded
San Antonio Spurs or the third-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. ...
Four former Clippers are on the Grizzlies' current roster -- F Matt
Barnes, F Zach Randolph, G Jordan Farmar and G Lance Stephenson.
Stephenson was obtained for F Jeff Green on Feb. 18.
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