Five takeaways from the Clippers’ 90-87 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies

Here are five takeaways from the Clippers’ 90-87 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

1. So long, win-streak

The Clippers had managed to win four straight games without Blake Griffin, who had surgery Feb. 9 to remove a staph infection from his right elbow. Monday’s loss marked their second game dropped without their superstar power forward. The Clippers are now 4-2 without Griffin.

2. Chris Paul’s locker room study

After the game, Paul sat in front of his locker re-watching the final play of the game on his tablet device. The Clippers, who were down by six points with less than two minutes remaining, scored five quick points behind a three-pointer from J.J. Redick and a jumper by Paul to cut the deficit to one-point, 88-87, in the final seconds of the game. As Paul dribbled the ball across the half-court line, Mike Conley stole it from him with 1.9 seconds left. The Clippers immediately fouled Conley, and he went on to make both free throws.

“All I kept thinking about is, if I was at home watching this game, I’d say this dummy didn’t even get a shot up,” Paul said.

3. Clippers wouldn’t have been in the game without Paul

Paul may have been critical of the final play of the game, but the Clippers wouldn’t have even been near the Memphis Grizzlies had it not been for his performance that evening. Paul finished with a game-high 30 points and 10 assists. The only other Clipper player to score in double-figures was Jamal Crawford, who had 15 points.

4. DeAndre Jordan is not hacked

Jordan, who shot a combined 54 free throws in games against the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 11 and 19, only shot four free throws on Monday; he made one. Jordan singlehandedly outshot the Rockets and Spurs teams from the free throw line in those games. Monday, however, the Clippers were outshot from the free throw line by the Grizzlies, 26-12.

5. On the road again

After having a three-game homestand following All-Star break, the Clippers head back out on the road Tuesday for a four-game trip. They play at Houston, Memphis, Chicago and Minnesota. They will likely be without Griffin during this stretch. Griffin had his stitches removed Monday and has been cleared for light workouts, but is expected to be sidelined for at least another week before he’s back on the court.