The Clippers really unleashed their firepower in this game, staging an astonishing comeback on the Grizzlies' home court.
You might wonder, how exciting was this game?
The Clippers were originally seen as underdogs, missing Leonard, while the Grizzlies had Morant, Bane, and Jackson, who indeed had stronger paper strength.
But basketball games aren't just about what's on paper, especially in such tense Western Conference ranking battles, which are never that simple.
And the result? The Clippers pulled off a stunning comeback, and this victory directly reshaped the Western Conference landscape!
The game was filled with tension from the start, with the Grizzlies showing strong momentum at home. Not long after the opening, Bane hit a three-pointer, setting the pace for the team.
This shot initially seemed quite exciting, but the Clippers weren't intimidated. Powell quickly responded with a three-pointer of his own, with the score seesawing back and forth, neither side willing to give ground.
Look at it, the scores fluctuated like a roller coaster, not giving the opponent any breathing room.
Especially the Grizzlies' offense, with Morant scoring continuously, once leading 8-3, making the Clippers' fans' hearts sink.
Fortunately, Harden and Dunn of the Clippers gradually warmed up, and the team began to narrow the gap, with the situation becoming increasingly tight. At the end of the first quarter, the Grizzlies still had a slight advantage, leading 30-28.
By the second quarter, the Grizzlies suddenly stepped up their game, with Lavinia hitting a three-pointer, once widening the gap to 5 points.
Well, the Grizzlies were scoring comfortably, while the Clippers were pushed into some disarray.
The Clippers were not to be underestimated, with Porter and Powell stepping up to quickly help the Clippers catch up.
The Grizzlies did not falter, with Bane, Jackson, and Pippen scoring again to successfully overtake the score.
What happened then? At halftime, the Grizzlies led the Clippers by 7 points, 58-51.
At this point, the Grizzlies really made people think they could hold onto the victory steadily.
The subsequent game did not go according to script at all.
By the third quarter, the Clippers were fully in gear, with Powell starting off by hitting a three-pointer, seemingly wanting to give the Grizzlies a shock.
Morant clearly didn't want to let the Clippers have it easy, scoring continuously to widen the Grizzlies' lead to 10 points.
On the Clippers' side, Jones, Zubac, and Harden were not to be outdone, gradually narrowing the gap.
In the following minutes, the Clippers, through tough defense and smooth offense, actually overtook the score!
In the final moments, both sides were still fiercely fighting, and in the end, the third quarter ended with the Clippers leading the Grizzlies by 1 point, 91-90, which was too thrilling!
By the fourth quarter, everyone's heart was in their throat.
Powell started off with another three-pointer, as if everything had returned to the Clippers' rhythm.
The Grizzlies were not to be outdone, with Aldama immediately responding with a three-pointer.
After this wave of successful offensive play by the Clippers, Porter, Zubac, and Batum teamed up to produce a 7-0 run, finally widening the gap to 8 points.
Look, the Grizzlies' fans probably started to worry, but unexpectedly, Pippen, Bane, and Wells directly teamed up to produce a 10-0 run, overtaking the score. The Grizzlies' scoring spree was simply dazzling.
Honestly, the Grizzlies once seemed to have regained control of the game, but the Clippers remained tenacious.
In the next critical moment, Harden stood out!
To be honest, this guy is like the anchor of the Clippers.
In the final stages of the game, Harden scored continuously, ultimately helping the Clippers complete the comeback and maintain the lead steadily.
The Grizzlies desperately chased in the last few minutes, but they were just a little short and failed to successfully reverse the situation.
In the end, the Clippers completed the reversal with a score of 114-110, securing this crucial victory.
The highlights of this game must be mentioned, Harden, Zubac, and Powell were truly great contributors.
Harden put up a near-triple-double performance with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists, really holding steady in the key moments.
And Zubac was simply a monster, shooting 10 of 18 for 20 points and 20 rebounds, directly breaking his personal season record and completely dominating the paint.
Powell was the top scorer of the game, shooting 10 of 20 for 29 points, almost serving as the engine of the Clippers' offense.
Honestly, although the Clippers' defense did not completely suppress the Grizzlies, they managed to turn the tide with key players' performances and team efforts.
Looking at the Grizzlies' side, Morant scored 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, still performing well, but he was just a bit lacking in the key moments.
Bane also played hard, scoring 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists, a true all-around player.
Jackson scored 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, also a focal point of the Grizzlies' offense.
To sum up, the Grizzlies performed more stably overall than the Clippers, but they couldn't withstand the pressure in the key moments, especially in the final period when they missed too many opportunities to catch up, ultimately losing a good game.
The result of this game has completely disrupted the entire Western Conference rankings.
After this loss, the Grizzlies were overtaken by the Rockets in the standings, temporarily dropping to third place in the West.
The Clippers, on the other hand, rose to seventh place in the West with this hard-won victory.
It can be said that the Western Conference rankings are becoming increasingly dramatic, with every win or loss potentially changing the overall landscape.
Some netizens commented: Watching this game by the Grizzlies made me feel very complicated; I once thought they could win, but that last wave of counterattacks fell short, which was really frustrating.
Indeed, the Grizzlies fought hard, but they were just a bit short on luck and on-site adjustments.
Other netizens said: The Clippers relied on the stable performances of Harden, Zubac, and Powell to secure this victory; other Western Conference teams should watch out!
This Clippers team's resilience cannot be underestimated!
That's right; the Clippers, even without Leonard, were able to perform so impressively, which is truly impressive.
This game was not just an ordinary win or loss; it played a vital role in the competitive landscape of the West, with the Clippers' comeback plot being like a drama.
Although the Grizzlies have star players like Morant, Bane, and Jackson, they still failed to seize the opportunity in the key moments and lost their lead.
The Clippers, relying on Harden's key performance and Zubac's dominance in the paint, ultimately completed the comeback, filling the Western Conference rankings with suspense.
For the Grizzlies, the road ahead is still long. Although this loss cost them second place in the West, it doesn't negate their overall performance.
In the fierce competition among so many strong teams in the West, any loss is quite common.
On the Clippers' side, they were still able to fight so hard without Leonard, and future games are worth looking forward to.
Who knows, maybe they will break conventions and surprise everyone in the playoffs?