The Memphis Grizzlies bounced back from a 0-2 deficit to win four straight games and close out their opening round series against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night with a 118-105 win at FedEx Forum. The Grizzlies advance to the Western Conference semifinals for the second time in three seasons and will face Oklahoma City on Sunday in a rematch of the franchise's only other Western semifinal appearance.
The series marks the first time Memphis has ever won four straight postseason games. They became only the 10th team in NBA history to win four straight after trailing 0-2 - the first to win the next four all by double digits.
"Now this series is over," Grizzlies center Marc Gasol told ESPN after the game. "It's time to enjoy tonight and be ready tomorrow. It's a quick turnaround, so we can enjoy tonight."
Memphis finished with seven players in double figures. Tony Allen had a postseason-best 19 points, and Jerryd Bayless had 16.
Zach Randolph and Mike Conley both led the Grizzlies with a team best 23-points each. Conley added a team-best seven assists and four rebounds,
Randolph added five rebounds and four assists to his dominant scoring performance. The Memphis forward also contributed by holding opponents Lamar Odom and Blake Griffin to seven and nine points respectfully, before being ejected with 1:57 remaining.
Griffin played limited action, entering the game off the bench due to a sprained right ankle. Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said Griffin's ankle was as big as a grapefruit.
Matt Barnes scored a career playoff-best 30 points for Los Angeles off the bench. Chris Paul had 28 points before being ejected with 2:29 left for crashing into Gasol off a missed free throw, though he shook hands with several Grizzlies before going to the locker room.
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