LOS ANGELES — Forward Blake Griffin scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a 94-92 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night at Staples Center.
Guard J.J. Redick had 16 points as the Clippers (5-2) ended a two-game skid. Point guard Chris Paul returned after missing Saturday’s loss to the Houston Rockets with a sore right groin, and he scored 14 points. Center DeAndre Jordan had 13 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks.
Forward Zach Randolph scored 26 points and pulled down nine rebounds for Memphis, which dropped its third in a row. Center Marc Gasol had 18 points but missed some crucial foul shots with the game on the line. Point guard Mike Conley added 16 points, five assists and six rebounds for the Grizzlies (3-5).
A 3-pointer by former Clippers forward Matt Barnes and a follow of a Barnes miss by Conley gave Memphis a brief 81-80 lead with 4:11 remaining in the game. It initiated a series of lead changes down the stretch.
Griffin’s bucket inside lifted the Clippers to a one-point advantage 50 seconds later.
Guard Tony Allen’s layup put Memphis up 85-84 with 1:39 left. A free throw by Conley made it a two-point lead, but Redick’s 3-point jumper gave the Clippers a 87-86 edge with 55.1 seconds left.
Conley misfired on a 3-point shot before Redick was fouled by Allen on a 3-point attempt with 13.3 seconds remaining. Redick made all three attempts, boosting Los Angeles to a 90-86 cushion.
However, Paul fouled Barnes on a 3-pointer on the following possession. Barnes canned all three foul shots to pull Memphis within 90-89 with eight seconds remaining.
Guard Jamal Crawford, who finished with 13 points, hit a pair of free throws with 7.6 seconds left, giving the Clippers a three-point lead.
Gasol missed one of two free throws with 6.6 seconds remaining, cutting the deficit to two. However, Crawford managed just one of two on the other end to push the lead to 93-90 with 5.9 seconds remaining.
Gasol made the first of two foul shots with 4.7 seconds left but missed the second. However, Gasol was fouled by Redick with 3.5 seconds to go. He made the first free throw but missed the second, allowing the Clippers to prevail. Paul added a free throw for the final point.
NOTES: Grizzlies F Matt Barnes had bittersweet memories facing his former club for the first time. “It’s always added incentive when you play your former team, (particularly when) things didn’t go how you liked,” said Barnes, who added that Clippers PG Chris Paul and his son attended a birthday party for Barnes’ twin boys on Sunday. “It’s going to be a fun game tonight. We both need a win.” … Just as Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace did over the weekend, Memphis coach Dave Joerger dismissed speculation his job was in jeopardy because of the team’s slow start. “It comes with the territory but if it was at all true it would be one thing,’ Joerger said. … Both clubs resume play Wednesday. The Grizzlies host the Golden State Warriors, while the Clippers visit the Dallas Mavericks.