Memphis opens road swing in LA

Memphis enters tonight’s game on a two-game winning streak. All-Star Pau Gasol’s jumper with 2.7 seconds left lifted the Grizzlies over the New York Knicks, 101-99, on Wednesday at FedExForum. Gasol ended with 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the win for Memphis, which has won six of its last nine games overall.

Chucky Atkins added 21 points and Eddie Jones netted 20 in the victory over New York for the Grizzlies, who shot over 50 percent from beyond the arc for the game. Jones and Atkins hit a combined 8-of-14 from three-point range.

The Grizzlies are 13-17 on the road this season. They will also visit Denver, Seattle and Sacramento on the current swing.

The Clippers, who have won three in a row as the host, attempt to bounce back from a tough loss, as they play the opener of a brief two-game homestand. On Friday, rookie Deron Williams connected on a jumper with 2.4 seconds left in the game to lift the Utah Jazz over the Clippers, 105-103, at the Delta Center.

Elton Brand netted 31 points on 10-of-17 from the floor and 11-of-12 from the free throw line in the loss to the Jazz for Los Angeles, which had its three- game winning streak halted.

Corey Maggette returned to LA’s lineup on Friday and finished with 12 points off the bench. Maggette had missed the Clippers previous 38 games because of a foot injury.

LA is 20-9 as the host this season.

This is the second meeting of the season between the clubs. On February 10th, Brand scored 44 points and pulled down nine rebounds as the Clippers rallied to defeat the Grizzlies, 91-87, at the Staples Center.

The Grizzlies have won nine of 10 and 10 of the last 13 meetings in this series. They have won seven of their last 12 at the Clippers.

Memphis is scheduled to host the Clippers on March 23rd and April 18th at the FedExForum.