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Clippers snap Memphis' home winning streak

Apr 14, 2013 - 5:09 AM Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - Chris Paul made 1-of-2 shots from the free throw line with 18.3 seconds remaining as the Los Angeles Clippers held off Memphis, 91-87 to snap the Grizzlies' 13-game home winning streak.

Paul, who finished with 13 points and five assists, put the visitors ahead 89-87. After Los Angeles forced a turnover on a pass from Memphis' Mike Conley, Blake Griffin went to the charity stripe to extend the lead, but missed both shots.

He was fouled on a clear path violation, however, which gave the Clippers the ball back and Jamal Crawford made two free throws with 2.2 seconds left to secure the win.

DeAndre Jordan scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and Griffin added 12 points and nine boards for the Clippers, who have won five straight.

Marc Gasol had game-high 18 points and 15 rebounds and Zach Randolph chipped in 16 points and 12 boards for the Grizzlies, who had a three-game winning streak come to an end. They sit in fifth place in the Western Conference, one spot behind the Clippers.

"At this point, it's about getting yourself ready for the playoffs," Clippers forward Grant Hill said. "Tonight it was a playoff-style game. We have to bring that same effort and intensity to close out the year."

Memphis was handed its first setback at home since Feb. 5 against Phoenix.

"They earned the game," Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said. "They played better than us and they had less lulls than us."

The Grizzlies, who were looking to pull within one game of matching the franchise record for consecutive home wins, a 15-game run bridging last season with this one, crawled back in the game late.

Trailing by nine, Memphis went on a critical 8-0 swing with 3:34 remaining to get within 86-85. Conley made one shot from the free throw line due to a defensive three second technical foul.

After Randolph missed a put-back attempt following Conley's free throw, Paul nailed a step-back jumper with three minutes to play to make it 88-85. That was the last bucket though until 23 seconds remained. Randolph's jumper made it 88-87 before Paul split his pair of shots from the charity stripe.

With the win, Los Angeles took the season series 3-1 and is looking to earn home-court advantage, even though the team currently shares the same record with Memphis with two games remaining.

The Clippers are now one-half game behind Denver for the third seed in the West.

The visitors entered the fourth quarter down five, but the deficit soon turned into a nine-point advantage during an 18-4 flurry to start the final period.

The Grizzlies missed six shots during the run, which Hill capped with an alley oop slam with 6:17 left to make it 86-77.

Gasol's hook shot early in the third made it 59-55, but the margin didn't get any higher for either team until the quarter came to a close. Gasol then nailed a jumper to tie the game at 68-68 with 1:53 left and the hosts closed the third on a 5-0 spurt to take a 73-68 lead into the fourth.

The Clippers never trailed in the second quarter, though there were five ties. Memphis outscored the visitors 28-27 in the stanza, while the score was tied 51-51 at the break.

Los Angeles led 24-23 after one quarter.

Game Notes

Memphis closes out the season with a trip to Dallas on Monday and a home finale against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday ... The Clippers play Portland at home on Tuesday and travel to Sacramento on Wednesday for the regular season finale ... The Grizzlies found victory in the series' last matchup on March 13, but they've won just two of the last nine regular season contests ... Conley had 12 points and six assists for Memphis ... Los Angeles outscored the Grizzlies 23-14 in the fourth quarter.