Memphis Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Clippers Game Preview

WHO: Memphis Grizzlies (48-27, 33-5 home) vs Los Angeles Clippers (40-36, 19-18 away)

WHEN: 7:00 PM CT

WHERE: FedExForum – Memphis, TN

HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN: Bally Sports Southeast/92.9 FM ESPN Memphis

INJURY REPORT:

MEMPHIS: Steven Adams (Out, Knee), Brandon Clarke (Out, Achilles), Jake LaRavia (Out, NBA G-League Assignment), Vince Williams Jr. (Out, Shoulder), Ziaire Williams (Out, Ankle)

LOS ANGELES: Paul George (Out, Knee), Norman Powell (Out, Shoulder), Marcus Morris Sr. (Out, COVID-19), Brandon Boston Jr. (Out, Lower Body)

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUPS:

MEMPHIS: Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr., Xavier Tillman

LOS ANGELES: Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon, Kawhi Leonard, Nicolas Batum, Ivica Zubac

After defeating the Orlando Magic last night, the Memphis Grizzlies are back in action tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers. In what was an absolutely electric game, the Clippers won the last matchup 135-129. The Grizzlies will face the Clippers again at the FedExForum on Friday. 

The Grizzlies struggled to close the game against the Magic on Tuesday night, but for nearly three weeks Memphis has looked like the contender many expected them to be. With the off-the-court distractions seemingly behind the Grizzlies, the on-the-court play has been exceptional. The entire team has clicked – Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., Luke Kennard and Tyus Jones are just a few of the Grizzlies that have shined in Memphis’s recent stretch. When Ja Morant returned to the lineup, it looked as if he had missed no time at all.

Memphis is clicking at just the right time. With the playoffs only a few weeks away, the Grizzlies are catching their stride and returning to the brand of basketball that has helped them become one of the Western Conference powerhouses. As the postseason nears, the Grizzlies are likely looking at who they could face in the first round, and tonight they face a potential foe. The Clippers are currently the five-seed but are only one game out of the play-in. Every game matters for the Western Conference, especially for the bunched-up teams jockeying for positioning. 

The Grizzlies will face Los Angeles without Paul George. The star wing recently injured his knee and is not expected to return until the playoffs. Regardless, Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers’ plethora of veterans and shooters is enough to challenge Memphis. In order to win their 34th home game, the Grizzlies will need to lock in and play a complete game and go to their bread and butter. Here are the keys to the game.

Play Four Quarters

The last time these two teams met the Grizzlies scored 51 points in the third quarter, entering the final period up 15 points. An extensive scoring drought allowed the Clippers to climb back into the game, outscoring Memphis 38-17 in the fourth quarter, and come away with the win. This type of collapse was something that had become familiar to Grizzlies fans, as much of the year they were bottom in the league in fourth quarter scoring, often blowing big leads late in the game. 

Memphis seems to have exorcised these demons as they completed the season’s largest comeback against the San Antonio Spurs. The Grizzlies were able to extend their lead against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter and two nights later they had a fourth-quarter comeback win over the Dallas Mavericks. The Grizzlies are 27th in fourth-quarter scoring, averaging 26.3 points in the fourth quarter. 

The Clippers are sixth in fourth-quarter scoring this season but have fallen out of the top 15 during March. Since March 8, the Grizzlies are third in fourth-quarter scoring. With each side sliding in different directions during the fourth quarter over the last month, it will be interesting to see if Memphis has truly turned things around and is ready to avenge its fourth-quarter collapse earlier this month. 

Dominate Inside

While Luke Kennard and Desmond Bane have helped the Grizzlies turn into a formidable three-point shooting team, Memphis’s bread and butter is paint scoring. Between Morant and Jackson, the Grizzlies are able to drive into the paint and overwhelm their opponents. Bane has developed his ability to get to the hoop and Santi Aldama and Xavier Tillman score most of their points from the interior. 

The Grizzlies lead the league in points in the paint with 58.5. The Clippers are 18th in opponent’s paint points per game. Memphis had 64 paint points in the March 5 meeting between these teams. The Grizzlies’ ability to dominate inside is what has helped them become one of the association’s premier teams. As long as the Grizzlies get the ball to Jackson, Aldama, and Tillman – who just scored a new career-high – Memphis should overwhelm a Clippers team that likes to play small. 

THROW UP THE X https://t.co/CWWxafSn5Z pic.twitter.com/BLbcExBraW

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) March 29, 2023

Prediction

I like how this Grizzlies team is playing right now. Memphis has unlocked Kennard, and his shooting alongside Bane makes the Grizzlies dangerous from outside. The Grizzlies blew too many fourth-quarter leads during their rough patch. That is behind them though. They are playing complete games, holding onto leads, making comebacks of their own, and most importantly, finding ways to win on a regular basis. It is hard to bet against Memphis at home, and the Grizzlies are certainly upset about the March 5 loss against the Clippers. I think Memphis is going to win its eighth straight. 

Prediction: Memphis 121, Los Angeles 118