(My Sportsbook) - Memphis hopes to salvage the finale of a tough, five-game road trip Saturday when they hit the hardwood against the
Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center.
The Grizzlies fell to 0-4 on the trek Friday in Staples Center when Kobe Bryant was 19-of-30 shooting for his second consecutive 41-point game and third in four contests amidst yet another record-setting night, as the Lakers pounded Memphis 114-98.
Bryant became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 24,000 points, passed veteran guard Allen Iverson -- now with the Grizzlies -- for 16th place on the all-time scoring list and notched his 99th career game with 40-plus points.
Rudy Gay had 22 points and Zach Randolph posted 21 and 15 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who are now 1-5 this season. O.J. Mayo contributed 15 points and Marc Gasol 10 with seven boards in the loss.
Iverson had to sit and watch Bryant -- three years his junior -- pass him on the all-time scoring list, barring injury, probably for good. The embattled guard continued to come off the bench for Memphis, despite voicing his displeasure with the role last week, and scored eight points in 21-plus minutes.
"They are a good rebounding team. Their big players are always in a position to get rebounds. Great teams are not just one or two players. With two big guys out (Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum), they found a way to get around those injuries," said Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins.
The Clippers, who are opening up a four-game homestand, won their second straight game Friday in Oakland when Baron Davis and Eric Gordon scored 25 points each to lead the Clips in a 118-90 rout of the Warriors at ORACLE Arena, snapping a streak of seven straight losses at Golden State.
Chris Kaman added 22 points in 28 minutes for the Clippers, who won their second straight game following four consecutive losses to begin the season. Sebastian Telfair and DeAndre Jordan ended with 13 points apiece.
"We just came out and stuck with our game plan," Davis said. "We knew that this team has the ability to get up and down on anyone, and we knew we had to have good shots."
The Clippers, who have won seven of their past 10 meetings with Memphis, will also face New Orleans, Oklahoma City and Toronto on their residency.
