Despite getting Marc Gasol back from a sprained ankle, the Memphis Grizzlies lost their two-game win streak as they fell to the Los Angeles Lakers, 116-108. The good news for the Grizzlies is that Gasol didn’t seem to suffer from any ill-effects of that ankle problem. He dropped 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting with 6 rebounds and 7 assists.
Since winning their first six games of December, the Grizzlies have gone just 5-7 since. But despite being on the second night of a back-to-back, they’ll have a good chance to get back in the win column against the shorthanded Clippers.
Gasol has had a lot of success against the Clippers, going for 23.5 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists in two meetings this season. He had 26 points and hit the big 3-pointer – with the accompanying Conor McGregor-inspired celebration – to get the 111-107 win in their last trip to Staples Center in mid-November.
Meanwhile, Mike Conley has gone for 30 points and has hit 7 3-pointers in each of the first two meetings against the Clips, and won’t have the defense of Chris Paul to contend with tonight. Conley has averaged 21.5 points in two games since his return from a recent two-game absence.
The Clippers have an outstanding record covering on the road against the Clippers. They are 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 visits to Staples.
The Los Angeles Clippers finally snapped their six-game losing skid as they beat the Phoenix Suns, 109-98. J.J. Redick led the way with 22 points, while fellow guards Jamal Crawford and Raymond Felton had 18 and 16 points, respectively.
The Clips finally won their first game without both Blake Griffin and Chris Paul in the lineup. Griffin has missed the past two weeks after undergoing a knee procedure, while Paul has been absent in six of his last seven games with a hamstring strain.
The Clippers have predictably struggled on offense without their two stars, but Paul in particular. They are 29th in the NBA in terms of offensive efficiency in their last seven games. They were limited to just 88 points against the best defensive team they faced during that time, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
With Paul still doubtful to return against the Grizzlies, who have arguably the best defense in the league, it’ll be tough to see the Clippers cracking 90 once again.
Writer’s Prediction
The Grizzlies grind away at the Clippers and get the 101-89 win.
