What bettors need to know: Grizzlies at Clippers
By Covers.com
Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Clippers (-1.5, N/A)
THE STORY: The stars appeared to be aligned for the Los Angeles Clippers – until a loss at Memphis in Game 5 that left All-Stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin injured and in need of medical treatment prior to Friday night's Game 6 of the Clippers' first-round series with the Grizzlies. The health of Paul (hip) and Griffin (knee) will be the overriding storyline as Los Angeles looks to wrap up the series and avoid a return trip to Memphis for a potential Game 7. As of Thursday evening, both were listed as game-time decisions.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES: Memphis staved off elimination with another dominant performance for most of three quarters before wilting and seeing a 24-point lead dwindle to six. It was eerily reminiscent of Game 1, when the Grizzlies blew a 27-point lead. Big men Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph were the keys to the fast start, combining for 27 points in the first quarter and 42 overall, but they were invisible for nearly the entire fourth quarter as the Clippers were making their comeback. Gasol finally asserted himself with 23 points after scoring a total of 27 in the previous three games and attempting only nine shots in the two losses in Los Angeles.
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS: Paul jammed the middle finger on his shooting hand early Wednesday, but a strained hip flexor forced him to the bench with 1:24 to play. His ability to take over a game cannot be overstated. Paul scored 10 points in an 81-second span of the third quarter to cut a 24-point deficit in half. He said he couldn’t continue Wednesday but insisted he will be ready for Game 6. Griffin had his first career double-double before hyper-flexing his knee with 1 ½ minutes left in the third quarter. While he remained in the game, he had just one point after he was hurt. He underwent an MRI exam Thursday.
TRENDS:
- The Grizzlies are 1-5 ATS in their last six road games.
- The under is 9-2 in the Grizzlies' last 11 road games.
- The home team is 5-2-1 ATS in the last eight meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. With Paul,Griffin and Caron Butler (broken hand) all ailing, Clippers G Mo Williams scored 20 points and sparked the fourth-quarter comeback.
2. After hitting a season-high 11 3-pointers in Game 1, Memphis has gone 10 of 44 from behind the arc.
3. How rare is it for a team to come back from a 3-1 deficit and win a series? It’s only been done eight times in NBA history.
Game 6 - Grizzlies/Clippers
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
The lone Friday night game inside the NBA playoffs involves a team from Los Angeles, just not the Lakers. The Clippers squandered an opportunity to close their first round series with the Grizzlies after getting blown out at FedEx Forum, 92-80 in Game 5. L.A. still leads, 3-2 with the series shifting back to Staples Center as the Clippers look to advance to the second round for just the second time since 1977.
Memphis stayed alive with Wednesday's 12-point victory as 6 ½-point favorites, while the 'under' of 183 cashed thanks to a 30-point fourth quarter. The Grizzlies jumped out to a 14-point cushion after one quarter, as Lionel Hollins' squad led comfortably, 57-42 at the half. The three-point shooting by the Grizzlies was non-existent (0-6), but the fourth-seed made up for it by knocking down 28 of 34 free throws.
The difference in Game 5 was the frontcourt production, as the Grizzlies' starters outscored the Clippers' big three of Caron Butler, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan by a 56-24 count. Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph dominated in the paint by combining for 42 points and 17 rebounds. Rudy Gay stepped up after missing last season's playoffs with a shoulder injury, as the former UConn standout is averaging 20.1 points per game in this series.
The home team improved to 7-1 SU and 5-2-1 ATS in eight meetings this season, as the Clippers have won all four matchups with the Grizzlies at Staples Center. Los Angeles rallied in Game 3 to pull out an 87-86 triumph, but failed to cover as three-point 'chalk.' The problem with Vinny Del Negro's team in this series is free throw shooting, which saw plenty of clanks in a 13-of-30 performance from the charity stripe in Game 3.
The Grizzlies made the comeback in Game 4 to force overtime, but the Clippers hit timely free throws to hold off Memphis, 101-97 as two-point favorites. Griffin and Chris Paul combined to score 57 points, while Butler overcame a hand injury in Game 1 by putting up 14 points.
Both Paul and Griffin were knocked around in Game 5, as the All-Star point guard strained his right hip flexor and jammed a finger. The former Slam Dunk champion sprained his left knee, but both Clippers' stars are expected to play on Friday night.
The Clippers last advanced to the conference semifinals in 2006, when Los Angeles knocked out Denver in five games. L.A. eventually was bounced by Phoenix in an epic seven-game series in the second round, as this is uncharted territory for a franchise that has bounced from Buffalo to San Diego to Los Angeles looking for any kind of success.
Memphis is in the playoffs for just the fifth time in its 17-year history, dating back to the early days of Bryant Reeves in Vancouver. The Grizzlies own a 2-4 SU/ATS record in elimination contests inside the postseason, with one of those victories coming in Game 5 against the Clippers.
The bad news for potential Memphis backers in Friday's Game 6 is the 2-7 SU/ATS mark in the last nine away games off a win. The 'under' has turned into profitable play in this situation, cashing in seven of nine opportunities. The Clippers have dominated at home off a defeat, winning 13 of 15 times, even though L.A. is 2-5 ATS the previous seven contests in this scenario. The 'under' is 12-3 in these 15 contests, including a sizzling 10-2 mark when the Clippers are listed as a home favorite.
NBA Preview
Grizzlies @ Clippers (3-2) -- Health of Paul/Griffin is key to this game, as Clippers are dead if Paul can't be explosive off the dribble. LA has 3-2 series edge, but its three wins are by combined total of six points, with two 1-point wins and one in OT. Clippers won seven of last ten series games-- home team is 9-2 in last 11 series games, 7-2 this year. Grizzlies had a 24-point lead to 4 in Game 5, reminding us how a blown 27-point lead in Game 1 has swung this series in LA's favor. Question becomes this: Can the Clippers finish it off, or like Chicago, are they too injured?
Armadillosports.com
MEMPHIS (43 - 28) at LA CLIPPERS
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
MEMPHIS is 8-7 against the spread versus LA CLIPPERS over the last 3 seasons
LA CLIPPERS is 9-7 straight up against MEMPHIS over the last 3 seasons
10 of 16 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
Memphis at LA Clippers
Memphis: 10-3 ATS after allowing 85 points or less
LA Clippers: 18-35 ATS vs. Southwest Division opponents