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Grizzlies near elimination
Source: Agencies |
May 9, 2012, Wednesday
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BLAKE Griffin scored a game-high 30 points to help the Los Angeles Clippers push the Memphis Grizzlies to the brink of elimination with a 101-97 overtime victory in their Western Conference quarterfinal on Monday.
While forward Griffin also contributed seven assists, All-Star point guard Chris Paul weighed in with 27 points and nine rebounds as the Clippers took a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Griffin stole a layup with an offensive rebound to put the Clippers ahead 95-89 before fouling out and the ever-reliable Paul poured in four jump shots in overtime to ensure that the home team stayed narrowly in front.
"It was a fight today," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "They gave us problems with their offensive rebound again but we were able to do a little bit of a better job at the free throw line and make some plays down the stretch.
"Chris took over the game when he needed to and Blake was big. I'm happy we found a way to execute when we needed to defensively, getting some stops. It's about putting yourself in that situation and responding."
Guard Mike Conley top-scored with 25 points for the Grizzlies, who twice led by a point early in the fourth quarter and piled on late pressure with an 11-1 run to tie the game at 85-85 with 35.5 seconds left. Paul put the Clippers ahead 87-85 with a darting drive and layup and Zach Randolph responded with two free throws to level the score at 87-87.
In Salt Lake City, the San Antonio Spurs completed a 4-0 sweep of Utah in their first-round series, beating the Jazz 87-81.
While forward Griffin also contributed seven assists, All-Star point guard Chris Paul weighed in with 27 points and nine rebounds as the Clippers took a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Griffin stole a layup with an offensive rebound to put the Clippers ahead 95-89 before fouling out and the ever-reliable Paul poured in four jump shots in overtime to ensure that the home team stayed narrowly in front.
"It was a fight today," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "They gave us problems with their offensive rebound again but we were able to do a little bit of a better job at the free throw line and make some plays down the stretch.
"Chris took over the game when he needed to and Blake was big. I'm happy we found a way to execute when we needed to defensively, getting some stops. It's about putting yourself in that situation and responding."
Guard Mike Conley top-scored with 25 points for the Grizzlies, who twice led by a point early in the fourth quarter and piled on late pressure with an 11-1 run to tie the game at 85-85 with 35.5 seconds left. Paul put the Clippers ahead 87-85 with a darting drive and layup and Zach Randolph responded with two free throws to level the score at 87-87.
In Salt Lake City, the San Antonio Spurs completed a 4-0 sweep of Utah in their first-round series, beating the Jazz 87-81.
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