NBA Playoffs: Memphis Grizzlies @ Los Angeles Clippers Game 5
Game 5: Memphis Grizzlies @ Los Angeles Clippers Tues. April 30, 2013 10:30 p.m. ET
The epic playoff battle between the Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers will continue on Tuesday night with the series shifting back to the Staples Center in the City of Angels. Although the Grizzlies were able to impose their will in the last two games coming out on top against Los Angeles with consecutive wins at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, the Clippers will almost certainly be a different team entirely at home in Game 5 while trying to take the series lead before heading back to Memphis.
Coming into this series, the Clippers were considered to be the better all-around team and favored in Las Vegas odds as a result. Unfortunately for Los Angeles, the series hasn’t gone as planned with the Grizzlies basically outplaying them in three of the last four games.
In Game 2, the Grizzlies took the Clippers the distance until Chris Paul hit the game-winning shot with time expiring. Memphis was arguably the better team in the second game of the series and took that momentum in Game 3 and 4.
Heading into Game 5 in Los Angeles, the Clippers will be attempting to take the series lead before heading back to Memphis for a potential elimination game at FedEx Forum. Despite the fact the momentum is all on the side of the Grizzlies, the Clippers won’t be going down easy at home in front of their fans in Los Angeles.
As of right now, the Clippers are favored to get the win and take the series lead with a -6 point spread. Although I believe Blake Griffin and company will be difficult to beat in this game, Memphis remains the better team and will likely pull off the win or make it much closer than the spread suggests.