MEMPHIS, Tenn. _ Some wanted to reminisce about the good old days when the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies had established a nasty rivalry from back-to-back playoff encounters.
Back then they both may have been among the NBA hierarchy, but on Friday night at the FedEx Forum, only the Clippers showed they are still among the league's elite teams because of a stifling defense that pushed them past the Grizzlies, 99-88.
The Clippers had 17 steals, six by Chris Paul, who also had 27 points and 11 assists while setting the franchise record for the most-ever assists.
The Clippers held the Grizzlies to 36.9 percent shooting.
The Clippers only let up on defense in the fourth quarter, giving up 31 points to watch their 21-point lead shrink to seven points in the fourth.
"I think our defense right now is something we can hang our hat on," said Paul, whose 3,502 assists as a Clipper moved him past former franchise leader Randy Smith (3,498).
"That's consistent. And our offense, we've got to find it. I hate to say it, but for us, we'd love for everything to be clicking. But I'm just happy right now that our defense is pretty good.
"I think we take a lot of pride in our defense and we're excited about getting stops and everybody doing their job"
The Clippers shot just 37.8 percent from the field. They got stagnant in the fourth quarter, opening the door for the Grizzlies. Paul said that "maybe" they are frustrated with the slow offensive start.
"But we're going to be all right," Paul said. "I'm not worried because as long as we keep getting those shots, they are going to start falling."
When they weren't making shots, they were rebounding the basketball.
DeAndre Jordan had 21 rebounds and Blake Griffin had 10. There was one small issue that cropped up during the game.
At the end of the third quarter, with the Clippers leading by 19 points, Jordan and Austin Rivers argued on the bench.
"I don't remember," Jordan, smiling, said before walking to take a shower.
It wasn't as if the Grizzlies were some sort of scary offensive threat. They had entered the game averaging just 97.4 points per game, the fifth-lowest in the NBA.
So when the Clippers had an offensive outburst in the second quarter, which was started by their second unit's scoring binge, L.A. had to feel comfortable with a 53-35 half-time advantage.
That's because the Clippers are so good on defense. "There's accountability on defense right now," Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said. "Guys, they are ripping a guy if you're in the wrong spot defensively."
As for the rivalry between the Clippers and Grizzlies, Paul said he's not "as dramatic" about it.
"I heard (Memphis Coach David) Fizdale tell the ref during the game, he was like, 'This is a rivalry game!' And I know Fizdale real well. I was like, 'All right.' I mean, obviously we played them in the playoffs. They beat us. We beat them. But it's a game."
