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Clippers Off To Memphis For Rematch With Grizzlies

Rowan Kavner

MEMPHIS – This isn’t déjà vu.

After playing each other Monday in Los Angeles, the Clippers and Grizzlies will face each other again Friday night, this time matching up in Memphis as the Clippers try to get back on track following two close losses.

The Clippers had won three straight games before dropping the last two despite late comeback attempts, one of them Monday night at home against Memphis. Head coach Doc Rivers said it can be tough to sustain good play without a star player, but as they continue to battle without Blake Griffin, they can’t think about recent losses of games or players.  

“We have to think about Memphis now,” Rivers said. “It’s a tough road trip, so our game and our job is to go one game at a time. The starters have been up and down and the bench was playing great. Last two games, the bench has been off and the starters are playing great. We don’t overreact to that. We just kind of keep plugging along.”

The Clippers are in the midst of a particularly tough stretch against future playoff teams, having just played the Grizzlies and Rockets only to see the Grizzlies once again this week, but Chris Paul said the record shouldn’t determine how engaged the Clippers enter every matchup.

“Everybody’s trying to get geared up for the playoffs,” Paul said. “Whoever the next game is, that’s who it is. I don’t care what their record is or what they did the night before.”

Tipoff: 5:00pm PST

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LAST TIME OUT

Rockets 110, Clippers 105 – Turnovers aren’t typically an issue for the Clippers, but they popped up Wednesday in Houston, as they committed 15 while only dishing out 18 assists. A 15-1 run to start the fourth quarter was too much to overcome from the resilient Clippers, who fell just short at the end despite getting at least 22 points apiece from DeAndre Jordan, Chris Paul and Jamal Crawford.

Kings 102, Grizzlies 90 – Zach Randolph struggled against the Clippers on Monday but bounced back with 20 points Wednesday against Sacramento, though it wasn’t enough. The typically staunch Memphis defense let Rudy Gay score 28 points and let the Kings shoot 48.8 percent from the field.

NOTEWORTHY MATCHUP

Chris Paul vs. Mike Conley – Paul had 30 points and 10 assists Monday against the Grizzlies, but it was a late turnover on a steal by Conley that he’ll think about most from that game. Paul’s had at least 22 points in each of his two previous matchups against the Grizzlies this season, and he was the one player Monday capable of weaving through the Memphis defense. He may be looking for some redemption against the Grizzlies and Conley, who had 18 points and seven assists in the last matchup.

TWO THINGS TO WATCH

Corner Threes – That was an area of emphasis for the Clippers to stop against the Rockets but couldn’t get it done. It wasn’t as much the fact that the Rockets hit some of their 3-pointers, but the fact that they came in open situations in the corner that bothered Rivers. Jeff Green drilled three 3-pointers, doing much of his damage from the corner Monday against the Clippers, who’ll need to stop that from happening this time around.   

Free Throws – There’s an argument to be made that free throws, or a lack thereof, have led to each of the Clippers’ last two losses. The Grizzlies shot 14 more free-throws than the Clippers on Monday and the Rockets shot 11 more free throws than the Clippers on Wednesday.

NOTES: The Grizzlies have lost two of their last four matchups overall … The Clippers have lost two straight after winning three straight … The Clippers have lost their last three regular season matchups against the Grizzlies … Chris Paul has been the leading scorer for the Clippers in both of the matchups against the Grizzlies this season … The Clippers held Zach Randolph to 2-of-12 shooting in the last matchup … The Grizzlies are the top team in the league in points in the paint with 47.2 per game and allow the fewest points per game in the league (95.6) …