The only intrigue involving the Grizzlies regular season now has to do with playoff seeding. Memphis can finish anywhere from fifth to eighth in the Western Conference and would prefer not to fall lower than its current sixth-place standing since a matchup with the Spurs or Warriors awaits in the first round.
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SCHEDULING
The Grizzlies have a playoff spot secured, that’s the good news. The bad news is they’re playing about as poorly as any team with the tournament just a few days away. There are no moral victories in professional sports, though Memphis’ 100-99 loss to Golden State on Saturday is about as close as it gets. Still, with that loss the Griz have dropped 12 of 15 games and their sixth place standing in the Western Conference is shaky. They have a one-game lead over Dallas and lead the Jazz by two games but close the year with a back-to-back at the Clippers and Warriors. Fifth-place looks a mile away right now.
The Clippers might be the hottest team in the NBA with wins in nine of their last 10 games following Sunday’s 98-91 decision over Dallas. Two nights earlier, the Clips went to Salt Lake City without DeAndre Jordan, Chris Paul, J.J. Redick and Blake Griffin, and pulled out a stunning overtime win over the Jazz. Los Angeles is the No. 4 seed and that’s not going to change, but the Clips have to feel good about having a healthy roster now that Griffin has a few games under his belt and the team is set up nicely for a postseason run.
INJURIES
The Grizzlies were hopeful that point guard Mike Conley would be available once the postseason started, but that is unlikely now. The team isn’t satisfied with how his Achilles injury has progressed and Conley is likely to miss the rest of the season. He’ll join Marc Gasol and Brandan Wright on the shelf for the duration.
Paul Pierce did not play Sunday, given a day of rest by Clippers coach Doc Rivers. For the first time since before Christmas the Clips have no one listed on their injury report.
KEY MATCHUP
Like all good scorers, Blake Griffin shook off a rusty first half Sunday to post a nice stat line. Still trying to find his rhythm in his fourth game back after a 45-game absence, Griffin missed nine of 11 first half shots against the Mavericks. But that didn’t stop him – there was still another half of basketball to play. Griffin scored 13 of his 17 points during the second half making seven of 18 shots overall, but was stronger in other areas, finishing with 11 rebounds and seven assists. His all-around play in the second half was reminiscent of the player who notched three triple-doubles in the playoffs last season and an encouraging sign that he may be on the verge of shaking off a layoff of more than three months.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
It’s a case of perfect timing for the Clippers, who got Griffin back in the lineup with enough regular season games left on the schedule to get him in shape for the postseason. LA has the talent to make a run but the services of Griffin are needed for this team to be considered a viable contender. Heck, even that might not be enough with the Spurs and Warriors battling in the West. Without Griffin, though, the Clips had less of a chance, at least now they’ll go into the postseason with a full roster and a better frame of mind. But two regular season games remain and the Clips still have work to do getting Griffin in a rhythm. Things will start falling into place and the Grizzlies will be the unfortunate victims in this one.
NBA Odds: Los Angeles 108, Memphis 99
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BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The contest pitting the Memphis Grizzlies versus the Los Angeles Clippers will commence Tuesday, April 12, 2016, at 10:30 p.m. ET at Staples Center. The contest will be broadcast nationally on TNT.
