(Credit: LA Clippers)
The LA Clippers (41-37) lost to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday at the FedEx Forum in Memphis (49-28), 108-94. The teams were playing for the second time over three days in Memphis. The team struggled without the services of Paul George, who remains out with a sprained right knee, and Kawhi Leonard did not play in the second half of the game.
The Clippers built a 20-point lead in the first quarter; however, the Grizzlies came roaring back in the second quarter, overcoming a 20-point deficit and taking the lead, 40-38. In the third quarter, the Grizzlies went on two scoring runs, 31-7 at the 5:41 mark and 18-4 at the 2:40 mark. The Clippers shot 34-of-90 from the field, a low 11-of-35 from three-point land, and 15-of-18 from the foul line.
We knew they were going to make a run, and we just didn’t know it would be that fast,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “We put ourselves in a good position (to win); we just didn’t do a good job finishing the game, taking care of the basketball, taking good shots, and getting defensive stops.”
Norman Powell led the Clippers with 16 points, Ivica Zubac 15 points, and 15 rebounds. Russell Westbrook and Robert Covington struggled with Westbrook held to four points but contributed with 11 assists, and Covington scored two points. The play of Westbrook was a far cry from his prolific performance on Wednesday as he led the charge scoring 36 points in the win.
Related Stories
Dayvon Ross Finds Success Outside of Football
Black History Month: Sports Profiles
Kawhi Leonard finished with 12 points, four-of-nine from the field, and three rebounds. Leonard rested the second half of Friday’s loss to the Grizzlies. The Clippers explained his limited minutes:
“The team said his abbreviated night was the trade-off for allowing Leonard to play Saturday in New Orleans, the first time the superstar will have played on consecutive nights since recovering from his 2021 knee injury.”
According to Westbrook, he was unaware that Leonard would only play in the first half of the game and did not know if others on the team were aware of the plan.
“I don’t know if anybody knew,” point guard Russell Westbrook said. “But that was something that Kawhi and the medical staff figured out. But no, I didn’t know personally.”
Desmond Bane and Luke Kennard led the Grizzlies with 22 and 17 points, respectively. Kennard hit four -three points to spur the Grizzlies to win. The Grizzlies newly acquired Kennard on February 9 as a part of a three-team deal. Ja Morant struggled in the first half with only three points and finished with 10. Xavier Tillman finished with 14 points.
(Credit: LA Clippers)
“Our bench came in and stepped up big-time for us,” Morant said. “It was something we needed after a loss (to the Clippers on Wednesday. “We have all the confidence in the world (Kennard) can knock down his shots. He could shoot (with the Clippers), and he can shoot now. But now he’s on our side.”
Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said the key to the team’s comeback was the ability to make a 7-0 run during the final minutes of the opening quarter.
“We got a little spark there,” Jenkins said. “I just started telling the guys we’re starting to feel the pace (better) and the physicality and urgency that we need … if we hadn’t had that spark at the end of the first quarter to cut it to 13, it may have been a different outcome.”
The Clippers will face the L.A. Lakers on Wednesday at 4:00pm.
