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This game is the 41st round of the 2022-23 NBA regular season, and the Los Angeles Clippers, who are fourth in the West, host the Memphis Grizzlies, who are 13th in the West. This is a clash between two teams of equal strength in the middle and upper reaches of the West, which is not only related to the battle for the standings and playoff qualifications, but also a focus battle worth looking forward to.
The Clippers, as the defending champion Golden State Warriors' big rival in the West, did not start the season well until the "Emperor" James returned to the Clippers. Now the Clippers lineup is more complete, with stars such as Wei Shao, PG13, and Harden, and they are firmly ranked fourth in the West, and their strength should not be underestimated. The Grizzlies are a "dark horse" in the West, with new All-Star guard Morant and last season's rookie guard Barnes on the team, and it is a period of rapid development. The two evenly matched teams played each other, which can be called one of the strongest matchups in the West.
The focus of this game is naturally the PK battle between the core players of both sides. It is regrettable that the Clippers' "big three" James was unable to play due to injury, but the Big Three of Wei Shao, PG13 and Harden are still full of expectations. And Morant returned from injury this game, and it is still unknown how he will feel in and out, and whether he can compete with the Clippers has become the focus of pre-game simulation discussions. In addition, the interior defense and role player performance of both sides are also crucial and could be the difference between victory and defeat.
This game is not only a battle for the regular season rankings, but also a contest of momentum and strength. It means a lot to both teams. It's not just about their all-time record and the chemistry within the team, but also about the momentum of the second half of the season. A fantastic high-level battle is about to take place, let's wait and see!
The beginning of the game
At the beginning of the game, the two teams had a fierce confrontation, and it was not at all obvious that Morant, who had just recovered from injury, was playing against the Clippers with the big three. The opening basket was a strong attack by Adams, which directly threw it away, but it didn't hit. The Clippers' first offense was to make room for Harden, and their own Iron Flower relay offense was successful. This ball was very threatening and directly gave the Grizzlies face. However, Stevenson made a three-pointer from the outside to help the Grizzlies tie the score.
The two sides kicked off with a back-and-forth and full shots, but it also exposed problems on the defensive end, especially on the inside. Zubac was moved away without blocking the opposing inside attack, and George and PG felt average on the outside. However, Harden was well organized and assisted Willis to score on a layup. Even so, the Grizzlies had a good touch on the perimeter, hitting back-to-back pheromone three-pointers and turnaround jumpers. Morant's first touch to the ball was a three-point miss in the face frame, which shows that his feel and state are indeed not as good as before.
The back and forth between the two sides is not at all like the opening 5 minutes, and they are all clumsy. The Clippers showed a sluggish performance that could not contain the opposing offense. In particular, PG's several shots all hit the iron ring, and the score difference was once chased closer. HARDEN ORGANIZED THE OFFENSE STEADILY, AND ZUBAC ALSO HIT THE BASKET. Fortunately, Wei Shao was extremely active and continued to break through to the basket. The Grizzlies also exposed interior defensive gaps, and the Clippers continued to exploit this hole to extend their lead.
At the end of the first quarter, the Clippers had a significant lead in possession despite not shooting highly. This is mainly due to Harden's stable organization and Willis's active performance. Although the Grizzlies have a good three-point shooting touch, they have poor interior defense, and Morant is also in average condition, obviously affected by injuries, which is a big loss for their overall strength.
Tournament development
Fierce battles continued in the second quarter, with both sides trying to play to their advantage. The Clippers are clearly focusing on Willis and George, with the former being a consistent scorer and the latter picking up. Several consecutive waves of Harden cheered on and scored fewer points to open the gap. And the Grizzlies are also looking for a breakthrough, and Smart encourages Morant to attack. The two sides rely on the core to respond to each other's challenges, and the back and forth is very exciting.
It's a pity that the Grizzlies teammates are a little rusty with their cooperation, and most of the points come from outside shots. This can't be compared to facing the Clippers' three stars together. PG finally got his hands on the ground and hit back-to-back jumpers. And the role players were also in the fray, Zubac chased a three-pointer, and Mann held high to block and then counterattacked to score. The full involvement of the Clippers is pleasing to the eye.
The Grizzlies are also looking for a breakthrough, and they continue to pass to Morant for a single knife. However, Cavill's marking and ZUBAC pressing help at the same time are really difficult to score, which also reflects the Clippers' interior advantage. Although Morant barely made a layup, it was too ugly to look at and didn't feel threatened at all. In contrast, the Clippers' offensive rhythm was noticeably better, with Harden constantly cutting and George's jumper getting back on target. Coupled with Wei Shao's active performance, the Clippers steadily took the lead.
It's a pity that the Grizzlies outside three-point line actually felt good for the whole team, and repeatedly hit to stop the bleeding. Although it was difficult to overtake the Clippers, they were not easily thrown away. In particular, Mulchunison and Ssmart counterattacked with layups one after another, sticking to the 10-point gap and not letting the Clippers go alone. The scores of the two sides alternated back and forth like this, with you and us fluctuating, stabilizing the score difference at double digits. As the first half drew to a close, the Clippers took a narrow 59-54 lead.
The end of the game
As soon as the second half began, both managers made arrangements to try to change the situation. The Clippers continued to play with George Westbrook, and Harden opted for assists. Coupled with the contributions of role players, Mann hit a jumper and Coffey broke through to make a layup to widen the difference. The Clippers' 10-2 offensive run set the tone for the game.
The Grizzlies are still trying to catch up and hope to rely on the big stars. However, Morant's form has never been able to improve to his peak level, and the offensive rhythm has been disrupted. The Clippers' defense is even tighter, and George's guard doesn't have any holes. This directly led to the Grizzlies' offense being completely unmomentum and completely suppressed under the Clippers' strong firepower.
At the critical moment, both sides were trying to win the game, and Morant finally made a layup to get a tie and 1. The defense also fought to catch up, and made consecutive steals. However, there were too many mistakes at the critical moment, and Dadu's three-point shots all hit the iron, which directly ruined the opportunity to chase points. The Clippers were stable in double digits, and Harden continued to assist George in scoring.
As the minutes passed, the outcome was already clear. Although the Grizzlies were still trying to catch up, they were never able to break through the Clippers' defense. Morant is still in average form and has made a series of mistakes at key moments. On the other hand, the Clippers have already entered insurance mode, and Harden chooses to pass the ball safely. Wei Shao's organization, George's jump shot, are very stable. As the final whistle blew, the Clippers beat the Grizzlies 117-106 to claim a home victory.
end
In the end, the Clippers defeated the Grizzlies 117-106 and won three in a row. Wei Shao had 14 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, George had 23 points and 7 rebounds, Harden had 16 points, 4 rebounds and 13 assists, and the Big Three had a total of 53 points, 17 rebounds and 22 assists. Other role players also performed well, especially George, who rebounded in form in the second half, and was fully restored to form this game.
The win further cemented the Clippers' fourth-place position in the West, just one half short of the Warriors. Carvalho will also be back soon, and the Clippers' full body strength should not be underestimated. As the top challengers for the defending champions, they are determined to fight for the championship again. As for the Grizzlies, the playoff ticket seems to be further away from them. Despite their tenacious performances, two consecutive defeats have a direct impact on the standings, and it is too difficult to overtake them and finish in the top eight.
But with Morant's super potential and the growth of a group of young players, the Grizzlies will soon become a dark horse team in the West that people have to pay attention to. There will be many more exciting competitions in the coming years. This fight brought not only excitement and excitement to both sides, but also a new understanding of each other's strength. It's worth looking forward to what the next showdown will be.
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