Frustration is building in Los Angeles, where Kawhi Leonard called out his team after its third straight loss on Saturday. The Clippers will try to turn things around Monday against a Grizzlies squad that handed them a 26-point defeat last month at Staples Center.
- Date/Time: February 24, 10:30 p.m.
- Arena: Staples Center
- TV Coverage: NBA TV, Prime Sports, Fox Sports Southeast, Sportsnet
- Sportsbook Odds: Clippers -9 | O/U 233.5
- Grizzlies Vs Clippers Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Memphis was a 10-point underdog when it visited LA on January 4, then proceeded to shock the Clippers 140-114. The Grizzlies also covered easily as 6-point underdogs in their November 27 meeting in Memphis, falling 121-119.
Memphis News & Notes
After going into the all-star break with eight wins in their last 10 games, the Grizzlies have struggled to regain that momentum. Memphis lost at Sacramento in its first game back Thursday, then trailed the Lakers by 19 points at half the following night. The Grizz fought their way back into the game before eventually succumbing 117-105 but lost their second-leading scorer in the process. Jaren Jackson Jr. hurt his knee guarding LeBron James late in the first half and is expected to miss a minimum of two weeks.
Jackson’s injury hurts Memphis’ depth, which the Grizzlies showed off in January when four different players scored 20-plus points in their 140-114 rout of the Clippers. However, another Jackson — Josh — may be primed to pick up the slack in Jaren’s absence after scoring a season-high 20 points against the Lakers.
Los Angeles News & Notes
Kawhi Leonard didn’t mince words Saturday after the Clippers fell 112-103 to the Kings despite being 8.5-point home favorites. “We weren’t ready to play,” said the two-time NBA Finals MVP. “The time is now. We’ve just got to keep getting better.” LA rallied from a 14-point deficit in the second half to take the lead in the fourth quarter but then went scoreless for more than five minutes down the stretch as the Kings regained control.
The Clippers’ chances of turning things around would be a lot better if Paul George (hamstring) and Patrick Beverley (groin) return to the lineup. Both missed Saturday’s game against Sacramento, forcing coach Doc Rivers to use his 28th different starting lineup of the season. Newly acquired Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris Sr. were among the starting five for LA, and the lack of chemistry was quickly apparent as the Clips missed 13 of their first 14 shots. Both George and Beverley were listed as questionable for Monday at the time of writing.
Betting Pick: UNDER
The Clippers should bring elevated intensity and focus Monday, and I expect it to show most at the defensive end.
- The Grizzlies are 8-4 ATS in their last 12 games.
- The Clippers are 1-4 SU and ATS in their last 5 games.
- The OVER is 6-1 in the Grizzlies’ last 7 road games vs the Clippers.
