MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The struggling Clippers put together a strong first half, but they got outkicked to the finish line in a 107-98 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 24 points and eight rebounds to lead the Clippers, who saw the Grizzlies close the game on a 9-0 run to hand them their ninth loss in the past 11 games. James Harden had 18 points and seven assists, and John Collins scored 16 points.
The teams exchanged leads through the fourth quarter and were tied at 98 with 3:40 left when Harden hit a pair of free throws, his only points of the second half. At that point, there had been 10 lead changes and nine ties with neither team leading by more than eight points.
The Clippers shot 5 for 17 from the field in the fourth, and the Grizzlies finally took control in the final minutes.
Rookie Cedric Coward had 23 points and 14 rebounds, one of five Memphis players to score in double figures. Cam Spencer and Jaylen Wells had 17 points each and Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 13 points as Memphis won for the sixth time in eight games. Zach Edey had 10 points and eight rebounds.
The Grizzlies defeated the Clippers, 112-107, a week ago at the Intuit Dome.
More to come on this story.
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The Clippers play at Minnesota on Saturday at 5 p.m. PT.