Memphis Grizzlies

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The stats don't lie. And in the case of the Clippers, the statistics told so much about why they lost, 94-82, to the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 3 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series on Thursday night at the FedEx Forum. The one statistic that now matters most to both teams is that the Clippers lead this best-of-seven series, 2-1. Game 4 is Saturday back here. After the game, the Clippers had written down many of the stat lines on the grease board inside their locker room.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - In the Clippers' eyes, there's only one way to slow down the backboard-attacking Memphis Grizzlies. "Everybody has to rebound," Clippers center DeAndre Jordan said. That's what helped the Clippers win Games 1 and 2 of the Western Conference playoff series as the Clippers outrebounded Memphis in both games. But when the Clippers didn't generate a collective rebounding effort in Game 3, it led to the Grizzlies outrebounding them, 45-33, and it led to a defeat.

They are the two shortest players on the court, yet 6-foot Chris Paul and 6-1 Mike Conley have perhaps the biggest impact there. They are the point guards who direct and make the all-important decisions for their teams, Paul operating for the Clippers and Conley running the show for the Memphis Grizzlies. And in the first two NBA Western Conference playoff games between the teams, the Paul-Conley matchup has been intriguing to watch. Paul's steely play has helped the Clippers open a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol won his first NBA defensive player of the year award after anchoring the league's stingiest defense. Gasol received 212 points and 30 first-place votes to beat the Miami Heat's LeBron James , who had 149 points and 18 first-place votes, the NBA announced Wednesday. The 7-foot-1 Spaniard averaged 1.7 blocks and 1.0 steals for a Memphis defense that gave up a league-best 88.7 points per game. The five-year veteran ranked 12th in the league in blocks.

Time never seems to run out on Chris Paul. Seven, six, five … He takes a pass from Jamal Crawford about five feet from half court and surveys the floor in front of him, the Clippers needing a basket with the score tied in the final seconds of Monday's playoff game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Four, three … He dribbles around Tony Allen and pauses once, then again, before continuing toward the basket. Two, one … He whirls past Allen, creating separation with a left forearm to the midsection, before elevating for a one-handed leaning jumper that banks off the glass and through the net with 0.1 of a second left.

Before the Clippers played the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, Jamal Crawford found out some disappointing news: He didn't win Sixth Man of the Year. In Game 2 later that evening, he played as though he had a grudge. He had 13 points on a flawless six-for-six shooting midway through the second quarter, helping give the Clippers reserves a 19-2 first half advantage over the Grizzlies' bench. He finished with 15 points, two rebounds and three steals. After the Clippers' 93-91 win, Crawford claimed that his dominant performance had nothing to do with having a sour taste in his mouth from the morning's news.

With the score tied at 91-91 and seven seconds left in the game, Chris Paul drove to the basket and shot a one-handed bank shot from four feet away over Tony Allen. The ball glided through the net with one-tenth of a second left to give the Clippers a 93-91 win in Game 2 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies. "He has a knack and a will and a desire to step up in those moments," Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro said. "That's what star players do. That's the best part of the game.

Chris Paul did it again, this time being that big-time closer on the biggest stage. Paul scored on a running four-foot bank shot with Tony Allen all over him with 0.1 of a second left Monday, giving the Clippers a stunning 93-91 victory over the shell-shocked Memphis Grizzlies in Game 2 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series at Staples Center. Paul scored the Clippers' final eight points, 24 in all, in helping the Clippers take a two-games-to-zero lead over the Grizzlies in the best-of-seven series.