Grizzlies Rout Clippers 107-91 Behind Gasol
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (CBSLA.com/AP) — Marc Gasol had 30 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 107-91 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night.
Gasol was 13 of 18 from the field as six Grizzlies reached double figures. Courtney Lee added 13 points for Memphis, which maintained the league's best record (12-2).
Tony Allen had 12 points, while Beno Udrih and Quincy Pondexter had 11 points apiece off the Memphis bench. Zach Randolph had 10 points.
Chris Paul had 22 points, five assists and four steals for the Clippers, who had their two-game winning streak snapped. Jamal Crawford scored 19, and J.J. Redick finished with 15, going 3 of 6 from outside the arc.
Blake Griffin scored 12 points, but was 5 of 17 from the field.
Gasol, who had his second straight game of at least 30 points, helped Memphis dominate the interior as the Grizzlies outrebounded the Clippers 52-32. Memphis held a 52-32 advantage in the paint and outscored Los Angeles in second-chance points 17-8.
Memphis led by as many as 25 points in the fourth as Clippers coach Doc Rivers relied on his reserves to try and erase the deficit. The Los Angeles bench made a run to get within 15, but even when Rivers inserted DeAndre Jordan, Paul and Griffin back in the game, Memphis pulled away again.
With the Grizzlies holding a double-digit lead in the third quarter, Paul did everything he could to pull the Clippers back into the game. The All-Star point guard scored 13 points in the quarter, but Gasol continued to dominate and four Memphis starters were already in double figures entering the fourth with an 88-72 lead.
The first half amounted to Gasol taking on the Clippers post players. He recorded 20 points before the break as Memphis led by as many as 17.
The Clippers were able to put a dent in the Memphis advantage with six straight points in the second quarter, but the Grizzlies carried a 53-40 lead into the break. Los Angeles shot 35 percent in the half and finished at 42 percent, including 7 of 25 from 3-point range.
Memphis, with Sunday's win, tied their best franchise start.
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