Paul George, Kawhi Leonard lead Clippers past Grizzlies
LOS ANGELES — Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said that if a few bounces in recent games had favored the Clippers, they might not have lost five in a row or been the only team in the NBA without a victory since the All-Star break.
His point was that two of those losses were decided by one point and another by seven points, where a missed rebound, a turnover or late shot could have made a difference.
“The ball hasn’t bounced our way yet,” Lue said. “So, we just got to stay with it, continue to keep putting in the work and keep grinding and that’s what our guys have been doing. Things will turn.”
The Clippers saw things finally turn their way in a 135-129 victory Sunday, but it took some work against a severely short-handed Memphis Grizzlies team that was missing four players.
The Clippers (34-33) overcame a 51-point third quarter by the Grizzlies, 17 turnovers and needed big games from Paul George (42 points, 11 rebounds) and Kawhi Leonard (34 points, 10 rebounds, four assists), plus solid defensive work in the final quarter to pull off their first victory in nine days.
On paper, it didn’t look like a fair fight. The Grizzlies were without four key players for various reasons. Star guard Ja Morant was not with the team after being suspended for two games after brandishing a gun in an Instagram video.
Dillon Brooks is suspended after getting his 16th technical foul, while Steven Adams (right knee strain) and Brandon Clarke (Achilles tear) also sat out.
Still, at times, the Clippers had trouble matching the Grizzlies’ intensity. Memphis came out aggressive, especially early on, pushing the pace and shooting 63% in the first quarter. This was not a team wringing its hands over its current state.
“It was a total team effort,” Lue said. “I know they were shorthanded, but they’re one of the best teams playing shorthanded in the league. So, it was a big win for us as far as getting that monkey off our back. And now, just continue to keep building our habits. But we got to be better defensively.”
The Clippers’ transition defensive woes showed up in the third quarter as they repeatedly failed to get stops, enabling the Grizzlies (38-25) to score 51 points and take a 112-97 lead heading into the fourth. They had trailed 67-61 at the half.
Jaren Jackson, Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones (starting for Morant) led the barrage that put the Clippers in 17-point hole.
George, though, wouldn’t let the chance at their first victory in more than a week slip away. Trailing by 12 (121-109), George scored six consecutive points followed by a 14-foot pull up jumper by Leonard to trim the lead, 121-117 with 5:46 remaining.
Suddenly a sense of urgency set in.
“Desperation was high. That’s what it was. Just desperation tonight,” George said, adding that the difference between the third and fourth quarters was effort.
“I mean, we just played harder,” he said. “We just brought another level, and we just played harder. We played with some grit and we changed. I just felt tonight we just had a winning spirit.”
From there, Leonard took a pass from Marcus Morris Sr., raced downcourt and buried a 3-pointer to pull within one, then scored on a dunk to give the Clippers a 122-121 lead. A pair of free throws by Leonard made it 124-121 with 3:21 left. Memphis scored just eight points the rest of the way.
“I thought by going small and able to switch and keep Tyus Jones out of those triggers was really good for us,” Lue said. “So, just keep playing through the game. And I thought Kawhi did a good job of turning up that last eight minutes. PG was great all night.”
The Grizzlies’’ energy waned briefly early in the second half. With Morris Sr. on the bench and Nicholas Batum on the floor, the Clippers opened the second half with a 5-0 run. Morris Sr.’s offense had diminished lately and there was some thought that Lue would replace him in the starting lineup.
Morris, who had missed the previous two games because of an elbow injury, exited the game after six minutes and played 11 in the first half. He was scoreless in four shots.
Behind Terance Mann and George, the Clippers ran out to an 11-point lead, but the Grizzlies weren’t fazed. They not only erased that lead but took a 112-97 lead heading into the final period.