MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The struggling Clippers put together a strong first half, but they were outkicked to the finish line in a 107-98 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 24 points and eight rebounds to lead the Clippers, who saw the Grizzlies close the game on a 9-0 run over the final 3:40 to hand them their ninth loss in the past 11 games.
James Harden had 18 points and seven assists, John Collins scored 16 points and Kobe Brown had a season-high 13 points.
The teams exchanged leads through the fourth quarter and were tied at 98 with 3:40 left when Harden hit a pair of free throws, his only points of the second half. At that point, there had been 10 lead changes and nine ties with neither team leading by more than eight points.
Memphis took the lead for good at 100-98 on a fast-break dunk by Jaylen Wells. Jaren Jackson Jr. and rookie Cedric Coward followed with baskets for a 104-98 lead.
The Clippers led 96-95 with 6:46 to go following a 3-pointer by Brown, but they only managed the two free throws by Harden the rest of the way and shot 5 for 17 from the field in the fourth.
Leonard entered Friday’s game having averaged 29 points in the team’s previous three outings, but he had only four points in the fourth.
Coward finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds, including four points and a steal in the closing 2:17, as one of five Memphis players to score in double figures. Wells added 17 for the Grizzlies, and Cam Spencer came off the bench to contribute 17 points and seven assists for Memphis, which won for the sixth time in eight games.
Jackson, who was held to two points in the first half, finished with 13, seven of those coming in the final quarter. Zach Edey had 10 points and eight rebounds.
The Grizzlies, who trailed by four at the half, built an eight-point lead midway through the third quarter. Wells was the catalyst. During a 10-2 run, he scored eight straight points and Memphis went ahead 72-64.
Leonard and Harden scored 16 points each in the first half to lead the Clippers to a 58-54 halftime lead. Their production overcame 56.4% shooting by the Grizzlies in the opening half, with the hosts getting 10 points apiece from Spencer and Edey.
The Grizzlies defeated the Clippers, 112-107, a week ago at the Intuit Dome.
UP NEXT
The Clippers play at Minnesota on Saturday at 5 p.m. PT.