Clippers begin on strong note

Basketball NBA

The Los Angeles Clippers picked up where they left off in their budding rivalry with the Memphis Grizzlies, claiming a 101-92 home triumph in the season-opener for both teams on Wednesday.

Facing a Grizzlies side they edged out over seven games in the Western Conference first-round playoffs last season, the Clippers prevailed in a scrappy and sometimes ill-tempered contest courtesy of a strong fourth quarter.

"We knew it was going to be hard fought and chippy," Los Angeles point guard Chris Paul told reporters. "When the schedule was released over the summer, I'm sure players on both teams were like, 'I'm sure this isn't a coincidence.'"

It was no coincidence that Paul livened up his quiet night by emerging with six straight points late in the game to turn a one-point Clippers lead into a 93-88 advantage.
Off-season acquisition Jamal Crawford then brought the victory home in the last three minutes with a laser-like three-pointer and a driving layup that put the Clippers 98-90 ahead.

Crawford wasted little time endearing himself with the home fans on his Clippers debut by recording a game-high 29 points, including 12 in the pivotal fourth.

"It's a good start definitely but winning is a better start," Crawford said. "When I'm scoring like that it's never just about me it's my team mates putting me in good positions."

Rudy Gay led Memphis with 25 points and Marc Gasol added 20 in a game that witnessed more bad blood between the teams.

Physical big men Blake Griffin of Los Angeles and the Grizzlies' Zach Randolph locked horns throughout the playoff series and the pair again engaged in a series of bruising encounters before each drew technical fouls in the fourth.

Results: Indiana bt Toronto 90-88; Philadelphia bt Denver 84-75; Houston bt Detroit 105-96; Chicago bt Sacramento 93-87; San Antonio bt New Orleans 99-95; Utah bt Dallas 113-94; Golden State bt Phoenix 87-85; La Clippers bt Memphis 101-92; Portland bt LA Lakers 116-106.