NBA: Memphis Grizzlies maul LA Clippers for first win of the series

The Memphis Grizzlies clamped down on All-Star point guard Chris Paul, and the rest of the Los Angeles Clippers could not find their rhythm without their floor general, as the home team pulled off a 94-82 win, Thursday (Friday, PHL time) at the FedExForum in Memphis. The Clippers had won both games in LA, 112-91, and 93-91, but the Grizzlies were expected to make things more difficult for their foes on the road, and they did just that, A three-pointer by Caron Butler made it 10-8 in favor of LAC halfway through the first period, but a 9-2 run courtesy of Grizzlies front-liners Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol put them ahead 17-12, and the Clippers would never lead again. Two charities from Matt Barnes at the start of the second quarter allowed Los Angeles to creep within a point, 23-22, but Memphis responded with back-to-back triples by reserve guards Keyon Dooling and Jerryd Bayless. An 8-0 run, by Randolph and Gasol anew, then put the home team on top, 43-31, 3:33 left in the first half. The third quarter saw the Grizzlies successfully play keep-away for much of the period, but the Clippers reserves made headway late, countering two Dooling free throws with triples from Jamal Crawford and Lamar Odom. Crawford would add a lay-up with 1.5 seconds left, putting LA within eight, 70-62. Crawford continued to keep the Clippers in the thick of things, as he and Matt Barnes made it a five-point game, 74-69, 8:39 left to play. Scores by Randolph, Quincy Pondexter and Tony Allen helped Memphis revive their double-digit buffer, 83-71, five minutes to go, but Blake Griffin interrupted their run with a pair of free throws. A 6-0 spread by Memphis made it 89-73, with Chauncey Billups responding with two hits from the stripe, but after two empty possessions, the Clippers waved the white flag at the 1:47 mark of the game, with their deficit still at 14. Zach Randolph scored a team-high 27 points, plus 11 rebounds in 37 minutes of play, while Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol managed 16 markers, eight boards and a block. Tony Allen and Quincy Pondexter scattered 13 piece. The Memphis Grizzlies defense bullied Paul into just eight points on 4-of-11 shooting. Paul attempted no free throws and missed both his triples, while also turning the ball over a team-high five times. He did however chip in eight points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Blake Griffin led the Clippers with 16 markers, but he had just two rebounds. Matt Barnes came off the bench for 12 points, while Chauncey Billups fired in 11. The Clippers lost despite matching the Grizzlies' field goal percentage, 38.8 percent, and making 9-of-23 from downtown. Memphis compensated with a 28-of-38 stretch at the foul line, and a dominant 17-5 difference in offensive rebounds. - AMD, GMA News