LOS ANGELES — Austin Rivers scored 14 points to lead six players in double figures, and the Los Angeles Clippers pounded the Memphis Grizzlies 110-84 on Tuesday night at Staples Center.
Chris Paul had 12 points and 13 assists, Blake Griffin contributed 12 points and seven rebounds, and Jeff Green collected 13 points. J.J. Redick scored 11 points for the Clippers (53-28), who have won six in a row and will enter the playoffs as the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. All of the Clippers’ starter rested in the fourth quarter.
Zach Randolph scored 14 points and JaMychal Green had 12 for the Grizzlies. Lance Stephenson and Xavier Munford chipped in 11 points each.
Memphis (42-39), which has dropped nine of its last 10, fell into a sixth-place tie with the Dallas Mavericks in the Western playoff chase and a game back of the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 5. The Grizzlies close out their regular season Wednesday night in Oakland, where they will meet the Golden State Warriors, who will be going for an NBA-record 73 wins.
Los Angeles used a solid first half to pull away from the undermanned Grizzlies, who were without Tony Allen due to a sore left hamstring. They already lost stars Marc Gasol and Mike Conley for the season.
The Clippers led 29-22 after the opening quarter before seizing control in the second period. The Clippers, who outscored the Grizzlies 32-21 in the second, rolled to a 61-43 advantage at the break largely behind their shooting. They shot 59.5 percent from the floor and converted seven of 11 (63.6 percent) from 3-point range. They limited the Grizzlies to 38.6 percent shooting and only three of 12 3-pointers (25 percent).
For the game, the Clippers made 54.7 percent to 40.7 for the Grizzlies. Los Angeles hit 12 of 25 3-pointers (48 percent) to five of 20 for Memphis. The Clippers also forced 16 turnovers by the Grizzlies while committing 11.
Memphis never made a run in the second half.
Clippers guard Jamal Crawford got the night off.
NOTES: With four former Clippers on their current roster, Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger said he would enjoy facing Los Angeles in the opening round of the playoffs. “Just that one extra ounce that a guy has to give could make the difference,” said Joerger, referring to the emotional attachment of the four. Memphis F Matt Barnes, F Zach Randolph, G Jordan Farmar and G Lance Stephenson are all ex-Clippers. Stephenson was obtained for F Jeff Green on Feb. 18. … Clippers coach Doc Rivers will rest some starters for Wednesday’s regular-season finale at the Phoenix Suns, but said he won’t decide until after Tuesday’s game. “We are going to as a group talk about it, but there will be several guys missing for sure,” Rivers said. F Blake Griffin is expected to be one of them.