Looking to improve a struggling offense that resulted in the team's first loss of the season, the Los Angeles Clippers open a two-game road swing Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Clippers' offense vanished at times in an 85-83 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night at Staples Center. Los Angeles endured a stretch of almost five minutes in the fourth quarter without a field goal and fell victim to another standout performance by Russell Westbrook, the NBA's leading scorer, who had 35 points, six rebounds and five assists.
The Clippers, who shot 39.1 percent against Oklahoma City and committed 19 turnovers, have experienced offensive dry spells in their four games. Los Angeles (3-1) is shooting 42.5 percent and an awful 28.7 percent from 3-point range on the season, the latter ranking 26th in the NBA.
Forward Blake Griffin said the Clippers, ranked 22nd in offense at 100.3 points per game, eventually would break out.
"I don't think we are worried," said Griffin, who finished with 14 points on 7-of-21 shooting and missed all three of his free throws against the Thunder. "It is not something we can't figure out. It is early in the season and it is a frustrating loss, but we are going to move on and correct our mistakes. We will use this as a learning process Friday and Saturday."
The Grizzlies (3-2) also have gone through funks. In what Memphis coach David Fizdale described as an "ugly" 89-83 victory over the winless New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, the Grizzlies prevailed despite hitting only 35.1 percent of their shots.
That is par for the course so far, with the Grizzlies ranking 26th offensively at 97.4 points while allowing opponents to score 102.9 points per game. They are shooting 40.8 percent overall. The opposition has connected on 45.9 percent.
But that matters little against the Clippers, who took two of three from the Grizzlies last season. The two adversaries have a history of testy playoff and regular-season battles.
"That's where the 'We Don't Bluff' came from, battling those guys," Grizzlies guard Tony Allen told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. Allen made his season debut against the Pelicans by scoring just four points after missing the previous three games with a sore right knee.
"It's obviously a rivalry for us. We like to battle with those guys," Allen said.
Allen isn't the only Memphis player battling health issues. The club has proceeded with caution with point guard Mike Conley and center Marc Gasol, who are still recovering from injuries lingering from last season. Conley underwent Achilles surgery during the offseason, while Gasol sustained a broken right foot.
Fizdale rested the pair in a 116-80 road loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Memphis also has been playing without Chandler Parsons, who is rehabbing from a knee injury.
Following Friday's contest, the Clippers travel to San Antonio to face the Spurs on Saturday. The Spurs also will be playing the second end of a back-to-back following a Friday night date at the Utah Jazz.
The Grizzlies wrap up their four-game homestand with games against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday and the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.
