Los Angeles Clippers bench comes up big; knocks out Memphis Grizzlies in Game 7 – NBA Playoffs
The Los Angeles Clippers were able to take a decisive lead late in the final period that was enough for them to pull away with a comfortable 82-72 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in game 7 of their first round playoff matchup.
The Grizzlies were attempting to become only the 9th team in NBA history to come from a 3-1 deficit and win the series. However, Chris Paul and company had other things in mind as the Clippers bench rose up to the task
with both Griffin and Paul not 100% for the game. The Clippers reserves outscored the Grizzlies bench 41-11, which proved to be the difference maker in the end.
Chris Paul had 19 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the Clippers scoring. Rudy g*y had 19 points and 9 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies in scoring.
“That's what we do, the bench comes in and we try to change the pace of the game and change the momentum of the game. We come in and get stops and just run” said Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe.
It was a gruelling match in which both teams did not shoot well. The Clippers had a 16-13 lead at the end of a low scoring 1st period where no team shot better than 30% from the field. The whole first half was very close,
with a momentary 10 point lead by the Clippers the largest. That however was cut back by some inspiration play from Marc Gasol as the teams enetered the second half with just one point separating them.
Leading 60-58 and 10:14 left in the game, the Clippers scored 6 straight points to extend the lead to 66-58. A three point shot by Mo Williams later had the Clippers up by 10. A dunk by Marc Gasol with 3:07 remaining had the Grizzlies
within 6, but the Clippers bench got the job done and did not let the Grizzlies come any closer, eventually finishing the game to win 82-72.
From 2:26 left in the game to 44 seconds remaining, the Grizzlies were unable to put any points on the board. They went 0 of 3 from the field during this period, missed a free throw and turned the ball over once. After coming this
close, the Grizzlies were unable to close the game.
Nick Young had 13 points and was 5 of 6 from the foul line coming off the bench for the Clippers. Kenyon Martin had 11 points and 10 rebounds, Mo Williams added 9 points and Eric Bledsoe had 8.
Blake Griffin’s knee injury was still giving him trouble in the game, as he managed 8 points and 4 rebounds in 28 minutes of playing time.
Rudy g*y and Marc Gasol both added 19 points for the Grizzlies. But Zach Randolph struggled with only 9 points and 12 rebounds. Mike Conley was 2 of 13 from the field for his 7 points and Tony Allen was 3 of 8 from the field for
his 7 points. O.J Mayo went 1 of 11 from the field to score only 4 points coming off the bench.
"It's not what you wanted. It's not what you expected. But the results are the results. You've got to go into the off-season very motivated. You're only as good as your last game, which pretty much sucked. You've got to go out
and get better" said Mayo after the game.
Both teams did not shoot well from the field, with Memphis managing 32.5% and the Clippers going 38.5%. Memphis were a dismal 0 of 13 from the three point line. The Clippers had a 46-44 advantage in rebounds and were down 16-13
in turnovers to Memphis. Both teams had 12 assists for the night.
The Clippers now face the top seeded San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semi Finals. The Spurs have had a long rest after finishing their 1st round playoff series with the Utah Jazz in straight games.
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