MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Ticker) -- The Memphis Grizzlies didn't mind finishing fifth.

Jake Tsakalidis had 18 points and nine rebounds while Lorenzen Wright added 17 points off the bench as the Grizzlies edged out a 101-95 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

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Memphis (48-33) clinched the fifth seed in the Western Conference, setting up a first-round matchup against fourth seed and powerful Dallas (60-21).

"Every game we played them (Dallas) was close, other than the last game," Memphis guard Eddie Jones said. "Actually we were up 19 points in that game, and we let them come back and beat us, we know we can win a game there. I think for us, it's can we finish games?"

Los Angeles (46-35), which lost for the fifth time in seven games, will face Northwest Division champion Denver (44-37) in the opening round. The Clippers won three of four meetings from the Nuggets this season.

"I expect a hard-fought series from Denver," said Clippers All-Star forward Elton Brand, who scored 17 points. "We got home-court advantage, and that should help. The Nuggets are a tough club, and so is Dallas. I felt that we matched up well with either."

Daniel Ewing's two free throws with 29 seconds remaining had pulled the Clippers within 96-93. But just 18 seconds later, Mike Miller drained a 3-pointer to seal things for the Grizzlies.

"That's what you're supposed to do, win games," Memphis coach Mike Fratello said. "I'm very proud of this team. They wanted 30 wins at home and they got it. Not many teams can say they had 30 wins on their home court this season."

Shane Battier and Bobby Jackson combined to score 27 points off the bench for the Grizzlies, who played without leading-scorer Pau Gasol.

"Conspiracy theories about people not wanting to compete, they don't hold any water," Battier said. "Those of us who play know you don't mess with the integrity of the game."

Memphis shot 50 percent (37-of-74) from the field and scored 40 points in the paint.

James Singleton scored a career-high 23 points and Walter McCarty added 12 for Los Angeles, which shot 50 percent (36-of-72) and made 7-of-13 shots from behind the arc.