Clippers muzzle Grizzlies thanks to third-quarter dominance
The 36-21 frame propelled L.A. to their 30th win of the season.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- On a night in which most of Southern California was hit by a downpour of rain, Intuit Dome featured no such dourness as the LA Clippers used a third-quarter spurt to motor past the Memphis Grizzlies and nab a 128-114 victory to notch their 30th win of the season.
The third quarter has been a major boon for a Clippers team this year that’s now eighth in the NBA in third-quarter Net Rating following Wednesday’s win—a triumph that saw them outscore the Grizzlies 36-21 in the third.
“Some nights you’re not going to make shots, some nights you can play great defense and not get stops,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue told reporters after the team beat Memphis for the second straight time this season. “Just thinking about the Utah game where [Jordan] Clarkson came out and hit three straight 3s to get them going. Tonight, [Desmond] Bane makes three 3s over half-court. Just staying with it, not giving in when things are getting difficult.”
Led by Kawhi Leonard’s 25 points, a rim-shaking 10 dunks as a team, and their NBA-leading fourth game this season with at least 17 steals, the Clippers overcame an early Memphis onslaught thanks to that third-quarter burst, which featured a 28-5 run over a 4:44 stretch that catapulted the home team from a deadlocked 68-68 game to one with a 23-point lead.
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