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Maggette continues offensive surge as Clippers top Grizzlies

Feb 21, 2008 - 7:46 AM By Jonathan Raber PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Corey Maggette continues to light up the scoreboard.

Maggette had 30 points and 10 rebounds as the Los Angeles Clippers recorded a 100-86 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.

Despite his team alternating wins and losses over its last eight games, Maggette has been outstanding, recording at least 20 points in each of the last six contests while scoring 30 or more three times during that span.

"Corey played terrific," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "He did a great job for us scoring and getting into the open court, mixing up our game and getting to the boards.

"He's having a great stretch and he's put up really efficient numbers for us."

Tim Thomas scored 17 points and rookie Al Thornton added 13 as the Clippers took charge after the first quarter against one of the league's worst road teams.

"Winning still matters," Thomas said of playing hard despite the Clippers' struggles. "You don't want to say the season is over right now, you play until it's over. We don't quit now just because we had some injuries at the start of the season."

Trailing by double figures, the Clippers went on a 16-2 run during the middle of the second quarter that resulted in a 46-41 advantage with 2:56 left in the first half. Los Angeles carried a four-point lead into the break.

"We were just sloppy," Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay said. "It was a tough game all around. We thought we kind of had them, and I do not know what really happened. They took the wind out of our sails. They went on a run, and it was hard for us to get back after that."

Los Angeles went ahead, 76-62, on Maggette's 3-pointer near the end of the third quarter, but Memphis battled back, closing within 10 points to start the fourth.

However, following a blocked shot by Chris Kaman, Thornton went the length of the court for a layup, giving the Clippers an 88-74 advantage with 5:57 remaining.

"I think we were making some key stops, getting out in transition and making some easy buckets," Thornton said. "It helped us get the win."

Despite being in control early, the Grizzlies lost their 11th game in a row on the road - the team's longest such slide in seven years. Their last victory away from home came at Indiana on January 2.

"We did not play as well collectively as a group," Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley said. "We were not as aggressive as we came out in the first quarter."

Memphis has struggled since trading Pau Gasol, going 1-7 in games following the deal. To make matters worse, the Grizzlies also were missing second-leading scorer Mike Miller, who sat out with a sore back.

Gay scored 21 points while Hakim Warrick added 20 and seven rebounds for the Grizzlies, who shot just 36 percent from the floor.

"They are a good defensive team, but we need to shoot the ball better than we have been shooting," Memphis coach Marc Iavaroni said. "It is tough to win games when you shoot in the 30s."