Blake Griffin Injured As Clippers Lose Game 5 To Grizzlies [Video]

The Los Angeles Clippers road a seven game win streak into the playoffs but are now on the brink of elimination after losing to the Memphis Grizzlies 103-93 in a Game 5 that also saw the Clippers’ Blake Griffin leave due to injury. Griffin sprained his left ankle in training on Monday while working in the post against teammate Lamar Odom and was held to just 19 minutes on the floor before leaving the game Tuesday.

The rising star did all he could to battle through the game with his high ankle sprain but found himself in the locker room during the fourth quarter. Griffin was taken out of the game late in the third quarter and never returned after leaving with four points and five rebounds.

The 24-year-old shot just two-of-seven from the floor but also pitched in five assists before being removed. Griffin left the game while the Grizzlies held a 65-56 lead and the Clippers failed to close the gap late in the second half.

Chris Paul finished with 35 points for a playoff career-high while no other Clippers’ starter managed to score more than six. Jamal Crawford was the only other Clippers player in double-figures as he finished with 15 points off the bench.

The Grizzlies kept the Staples Center crowd out of the game all night and went on to win their third straight after losing the first two games of the series. Zach Randolph led the way with a double-double as the Grizzlies are now just one game from finishing off a first round upset.

Randolph dominated the paint and scored 25 points in the game to go along with 11 rebounds. The 31-year-old power forward scored 10 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter as the Grizzlies pulled away.

Here’s full highlights of Game 5 if you missed the Grizzlies take hold of the series:

Mike Conley controlled the tempo from the point and added 20 points, six assists, and three rebounds in the key win. The NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, Marc Gasol, also took advantage of Griffin’s injury and scored 21 points with eight rebounds.

Gasol was a force during his 31 minutes on the floor and he credited Conley for creating opportunities throughout the game.

” We need his playmaking,” Gasol said of his point guard. “Even though sometimes he may not be making shots, we need him to get in the paint, create for somebody else. He’s an outside playmaker.”

Chris Paul and company will now look to regroup after losing the last three games and may not have Blake Griffin when they return to the floor on Friday. Two days isn’t a lot of rest for a high ankle sprain and even if Griffin decides to play he will be watched and more than likely receive limited time on the court.

Can the Los Angeles Clippers comeback and win Game 6 to bring the series back to the Staples Center without Blake Griffin?

[Image via Keith Allison]