Eric Bledsoe Lifts Clippers Past Grizzlies

2013 NBA Playoffs

Los Angeles, CA

Eric Bledsoe scored 13 of his 15 points in the final period to help the Los Angeles Clippers pull away en route to a 112-91 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series at Staples Center.

Bledsoe made all of his seven attempts on top of six rebounds and four assists in 18 minutes off the bench to lift the Clippers to victory.

"Eric Bledsoe, his athleticism, his speed, he had a big tip in, just doing all the right things for us out there. He really set the tone for our second unit," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said.

Chris Paul recorded 23 points and seven assists, Chauncey Billups added 14, Jamal Crawford and Caron Butler had 13 points each while Blake Griffin scored 10 for the Clippers, who outscored the Grizzlies, 37-22, in the fourth period.

Center DeAndre Jordan and Lamar Odom finished with just three and four points, respectively, but combined for 15 rebounds as the Clippers outrebounded the Grizzlies, 47-23.

"We got beat at our own game," said Memphis center Marc Gasol, who was held to two caroms, far from his regular-season average of 7.8 per game.

Jerryd Bayless scored 19 points off the bench, Gasol finished with 16, Zach Randolph had 13 and Mike Conley had 12 for the Grizzlies, who kept pace with the Clippers in the first three quarters before losing steam in the final period.

"I thought we had a couple droughts where we couldn't' get much going and couldn't get a flow," said Conley.

The Grizzlies never led but got as close as one on Keyon Dooling's 3-pointer with 10:11 left in the fourth quarter.

However, Bledsoe scored on a drive that sparked a 7-0 run, putting Los Angeles in front by 84-76, with eight minutes to play.

The Clippers never let down from there, extending their lead to 19 points with 1:47 left before the Grizzlies pulled out their starters as sign of surrender.

SPORTS

Eric Bledsoe Lifts Clippers Past Grizzlies