Memphis hopes to salvage the finale of a tough, five-game
road trip Saturday when they hit the hardwood against the Los Angeles Clippers
at Staples Center.
The Grizzlies fell to 0-4 on the trek Friday in Staples Center when Kobe
Bryant was 19-of-30 shooting for his second consecutive 41-point game and
third in four contests amidst yet another record-setting night, as the Lakers
pounded Memphis 114-98.
Bryant became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 24,000 points,
passed veteran guard Allen Iverson -- now with the Grizzlies -- for 16th place
on the all-time scoring list and notched his 99th career game with 40-plus
points.
Rudy Gay had 22 points and Zach Randolph posted 21 and 15 rebounds for the
Grizzlies, who are now 1-5 this season. O.J. Mayo contributed 15 points and
Marc Gasol 10 with seven boards in the loss.
Iverson had to sit and watch Bryant -- three years his junior -- pass him on
the all-time scoring list, barring injury, probably for good. The embattled
guard continued to come off the bench for Memphis, despite voicing his
displeasure with the role last week, and scored eight points in 21-plus
minutes.
"They are a good rebounding team. Their big players are always in a position
to get rebounds. Great teams are not just one or two players. With two big
guys out (Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum), they found a way to get around those
injuries," said Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins.
The Clippers, who are opening up a four-game homestand, won their second
straight game Friday in Oakland when Baron Davis and Eric Gordon scored 25
points each to lead the Clips in a 118-90 rout of the Warriors at ORACLE
Arena, snapping a streak of seven straight losses at Golden State.
Chris Kaman added 22 points in 28 minutes for the Clippers, who won their
second straight game following four consecutive losses to begin the season.
Sebastian Telfair and DeAndre Jordan ended with 13 points apiece.
"We just came out and stuck with our game plan," Davis said. "We knew that
this team has the ability to get up and down on anyone, and we knew we had to
have good shots."
The Clippers, who have won seven of their past 10 meetings with Memphis, will
also face New Orleans, Oklahoma City and Toronto on their residency.
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