%20011107.jpg) The Clippers' Elton Brand backs down Memphis rookie Pau Gasol. Robert Mora NBAE/Getty Images 56k | 300k |
Odom held a news conference earlier in the day regarding his five-game suspension for violating the NBA's anti-drug policy. Surrounded by teammates and coaches, he tearfully admitted to using marijuana.
"We have to come together at a time like this," Richardson said. "Play together and try to pull out victories whenever we can."
Elton Brand contributed 21 points and 11 rebounds while Jeff McInnis got the better of Jason Williams with 21 points and 12 assists.
"I though Jeff did a great job," Clippers coach Alvin Gentry said. "When we are in the 20s in the assist category, we do a great job."
Richardson had a pair of 3-pointers in an 11-2 spurt to close the first quarter, giving the Clippers a 33-15 lead. Eric Piatkowski scored all 11 of his points in the period.
Los Angeles took its biggest lead, 42-21, on a short jumper by Darius Miles midway through the second quarter. Memphis turned to a zone defense and used an 18-6 run to get back in the game, as former Clipper Lorenzen Wright scored 10 points. Los Angeles held a 54-41 halftime edge.
"We have to be ready to play against the zone," Richardson said. "We had them beat bad and then the zone kind of brought them back. We shot ourselves in the foot too with their zone."
The Grizzlies closed to 89-84 with 6:47 left on a 3-pointer by Williams, who finished with 17 points and nine assists. A short hook by Miles ignited an 8-2 run that gave the Clippers a 97-86 lead with 4:43 to go.
Gentry also received a spark from seldom-used 5-3 guard Earl Boykins, who played the entire fourth quarter and scored eight points.
Rookie Pau Gasol scored 24 points and Wright posted his fifth double-double of the season with 22 and 11 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who made just 4-of-18 from beyond the arc. They fell to 0-5 and remained one of two winless teams in the NBA along with Philadelphia.
"I've been in the league for four years and I've been winning my first three," Williams said. "Then I come here and go 0-5. It is tough. I am trying to take all the positives I can."
The Grizzlies also received a spark from reserve guard Brevin Knight, who scored 16 points off the bench.
"This is a learning year for us," Wright said. "We're not going to go 0-82. Everything takes time and patience. We're trying not to get down."
Memphis played without starting guard Michael Dickerson, who sat out with a groin injury suffered in Tuesday's loss at Phoenix.
"Our main scorer is hurt," Williams said. "We have to take it one possession at a time."