| |
|
NBA WEST -- Grizzlies maul Clippers, force Game 7
By Joan Secuya-Medida
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 13 May 2012
LOS ANGELES -- Close out games are never easy. The LA Clippers found that out the hard way Friday night at the Staples Center here in downtown Los Angeles.
With a 3-2 series lead over the Memphis Grizzlies, the Clippers had the golden opportunity to close out and advance to the second round. And for a moment, it seemed like the Clippers would deliver as they raced to a 76-68 lead in the 8:31 mark of the fourth quarter.
But LA had a major hiccup and watched the Grizzlies mount a 19-6 run that shoved Memphis back up, 87-82, with just 2:43 left to play. LA fought back, alright, but the rally was short-circuited by crucial turnovers, including two from a hobbled Chris Paul.
In the end,, it was Memphis 90, LA 88. This best-of-7 series is now tied at 3-3.
"It's tough, but nobody is 100 percent at this time of the season. I tried to suck it up and so did Blake (Griffin). We still had an opportunity to win. This is not a one-man team," said Paul who suffered a strained hip flexor in Game 5 and was clearly hindered in Game 6, moving without the usual spring and mobility that has defined him as an elite point guard.
Paul played for nearly 34 minutes and 59 seconds finished with a pedestrain 11 points, seven assists and three turnovers.
Griffin, who sustained a sprained knee in Game 5, was also diminished in Game 6. The 6-foot-10 power forward only had 17 points and six rebounds, And with him slowed on defense and rebounding, the Grizzlies decisively dominated the boards, 48-32.
Memphis' big men -- 7-foot Marc Gasol and 6-foot-9 Zach Randolph -- ruled the paint again. Both bigs combined for 41 points and 25 rebounds as the Grizzlies survived a poor shooting night when they made only 36 of 77 field goals including 3 for 10 beyond the arc. Memphis also missed 10 free throws.
Game 7 is scheduled Sunday afternoon at the FedEx Forum in Memphis. The Grizzlies are seeking to become only the eighth team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 deficit and win a 7-game series. (Joan Secuya-Medida)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joan Secuya-Medida.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
DAZN and Top Rank announce a landmark multi-year media rights deal bringing elite events and a storied archive to DAZN users worldwide
, Thu, 19 Mar 2026Sampson Boxing Signs Top Junior Lightweight Contender Charly Suarez to a Promotional Contract
, Thu, 19 Mar 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 17 MARCH 2026: Collazo Stops Haro; Fundora KO Ruiz; Barboza Outpoints Sims; Cacace UD Dickens
By Eric Armit, , Wed, 18 Mar 2026Tapales Near Peak Form Ahead of April 3 Tokyo Showdown with Oguni
, Wed, 18 Mar 2026MILLER AND PERO CLASH IN HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN IN LAS VEGAS ON APRIL 25
, Wed, 18 Mar 2026Middleweight Championship Battle Between (C) Khamzat Chimaev and (#3) Sean Strickland Headlines UFC® 328 at Prudential Center Live on Paramount+
, Wed, 18 Mar 2026Sampson Lewkowicz & TM Boxing Sign Undefeated Mexican Prospect José Ángel Guerrero to Co-Promotional Deal
, Wed, 18 Mar 202612-Time World Champion & Hall of Famer James Toney Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
, Wed, 18 Mar 2026Five stitches for Donaire’s cut
By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026Roberto Gomez Training Camp Notes
, Tue, 17 Mar 2026Esneth Domingo Trains at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles Ahead of His US Debut
, Tue, 17 Mar 2026Tatay Digong Birthday Run on March 28
By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 202612-0 prospect Marco Romero to headline This Friday in Independence, Missouri
, Tue, 17 Mar 2026700 athletes on March 21-22 at UM
By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026United States Earns Four Gold Medals on Final Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
, Mon, 16 Mar 2026Mexico wins 2 bronze medals at World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 16 Mar 2026Arnold Barboza Jr. Shines in Welterweight Debut, Defeats Kenneth Sims Jr. to Claim Wbo Global Welterweight Title
, Sun, 15 Mar 2026WBC top contender Canoy returns to Davao with Unanimous Decision Victory
, Sun, 15 Mar 2026John Randall Peralta: The Future of the Philippine Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026Alvin “Felemon” Dologuin Claims Win in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand (PHOTOS)
, Sun, 15 Mar 2026Donaire's Yokohama Showdown: Can our Filipino Flash Outshine the Rising Sun? (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Wins Five of Eight Bouts on Day Six
, Sun, 15 Mar 2026Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Chamberlain's record of 127 consecutive NBA games with 20 points or more
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Stops Mexican Terminator Manuel Gallego in Eight Classic Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
, Sat, 14 Mar 2026Weigh-in from Highland Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand; Dologuin in Action (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
, Sat, 14 Mar 2026 |
|
|
|
|
|
