Los Angeles Clippers center Blake Griffin has been bruised and battered in his first round series with the Memphis Grizzlies.
He’s been guarded by both Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph in what has been a very physical matchup.
The Grizzlies big men have left Griffin not only bruised and scratched, but also sore, according to Yahoo Sports.
It was nearly midnight when Blake Griffin made the slow walk down the Staples Center hallway to meet his parents after a long night’s work. Each step of Griffin’s looked painful, and for good reason. The Memphis Grizzlies had pushed, shoved and tossed around the Los Angeles Clippers’ high-flying forward, leaving him bruised and scraped. Griffin had fought to maintain his composure against the physicality, even once pulling his jersey partially over his face to hide his frustration over the officiating.
Randolph put Griffin to the test in Game 4. The two tussled late in the second quarter after Gasol fouled Clippers forward Reggie Evans. After Randolph again became entangled with Griffin a couple minutes later, he chest-bumped Griffin, drawing a technical, then tossed his headband to the court in frustration after he was subbed out.
While the Grizzlies are very much in this series with a critical Game 6 ahead, if the Clippers should win, the San Antonio Spurs, who would be fresh after sweeping the Utah Jazz, would gladly thank the Grizzlies for putting Griffin through the wringer.
The Clippers will look to finish off the Grizzlies on Friday. If the series ends then, the Spurs will be entering the second round of the playoffs on fat least five days of rest.
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