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Grizzlies-Clippers Preview

Nov 29, 2009 - 3:44 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Memphis (6-10) at Los Angeles (7-10), 3:30 p.m. EDT

The Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers aren't division rivals, but they have to be feeling that way as they meet for the third time in just over three weeks.

Right now, they also have to be feeling pretty good about themselves.

The surging Grizzlies look to build on their most impressive win yet as they continue a five-game road trip Sunday afternoon against the Clippers, winners of three of four.

The Grizzlies (6-10) began 1-8 and lost all five games during its first long trip, concluding with a 113-110 loss to the Clippers on Nov. 7.

Memphis has turned it around from there, averaging 105.1 points and shooting 50.9 percent while going 5-2 since Nov. 14, with four of those wins coming after releasing Allen Iverson.

The Grizzlies' latest victory was certainly their best of the bunch. Memphis took a 29-point lead at Portland late in the second quarter Friday night and held on to win 106-96 against the Western Conference's stingiest defense.

"It was an awesome performance from start to finish. They came in and were ready to play. It was beautiful," coach Lionel Hollins said. "This is the best we've played against a quality opponent."

Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, O.J. Mayo and Marc Gasol are all averaging at least 15.4 points, but the main credit for the Grizzlies' turnaround belongs with their defense. Memphis was allowing 111.1 points per game during its 1-8 start but has cut that to 100.7 over its last seven.

"We knew going into the season that we weren't going to have any trouble scoring, but defensively, it takes a team effort, mental discipline and toughness to win," said Mayo, who's been held to 12.0 points per game against the Clippers.

Gay has to be the biggest concern for Los Angeles (7-10) as the teams meet for the third time since Nov. 7. He's averaged 27.0 points as the teams have split two meetings, and has scored at least 20 points in Memphis' last eight games against the Clippers.

Gasol has averaged 15.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists in the Grizzlies' three latest games against Los Angeles, but he'll have his hands full inside against Chris Kaman.

Kaman has averaged 21.5 points versus Memphis, and scored 26 points on 11 of 13 shooting to spark a 104-96 win at Detroit on Friday after going 9 of 39 from the field in his previous two games.

The Clippers outscored the Pistons 46-26 in the paint despite being outrebounded 43-35.

"We've got some guys that can post up and we did a good job of getting them there," coach Mike Dunleavy told the NBA's official Web site. "We took advantage of it."

Los Angeles will need Kaman and Marcus Camby to lead a better effort on the glass Sunday. The Grizzlies score a league-best 51.8 points in the paint thanks largely to their NBA-best 13.7 offensive rebounds per game. Memphis has averaged 54.0 points in the paint in its first two games against Los Angeles.

The Clippers also would love for Al Thornton to continue his turnaround. The third-year forward has averaged 19.0 points over his last seven games after scoring 8.6 points per game in his first 10. Thornton scored a career-high 39 points in a 110-97 home win over the Grizzlies on March 29, 2008.