LOS ANGELES - It’s the playoff rematch of the Los Angeles Clippers and the Memphis Grizzlies.
They will be meeting in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs for the second consecutive season.
And if this seven-game series that starts today at Staples Center is anything like last year’s, it will be another tough playoff between two teams that have a healthy dislike for each other.
The Clippers won last year’s series in historic fashion, taking Game 7 in Memphis against all odds. In the NBA playoffs, visiting teams had won just 19.5 percent of Game 7s before the Clippers won.
In the teams’ playoff opener last season, the Clippers were down 27 points at one point, and they trailed by 21 at the end of the third quarter. But they tied the NBA playoff record for the largest deficit overcome in the fourth quarter, winning Game 1, 99-98.
Now the Clippers and Grizzlies go at it again, two teams that finished the regular season with 56-26 records, two teams that are basically evenly matched, even if the Clippers won the season series, three games to one.
“Just like last year, it’s going to be a battle,” Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro said after Wednesday night’s season-ending victory at Sacramento. “We’re going to have to play big in the biggest moments.”
After all the injuries the Clippers have dealt with this season, it can’t be a surprise that they have another one.
Blake Griffin suffered back spasms during the Kings game, but he found a way to finish and even came up with two big plays late in the close game.
Griffin’s back locked up while shooting before the game, and it limited his ability to run and jump. The Clippers didn’t practice Thursday, but Griffin planned on getting treatment.
Griffin’s back spasms arrived just as he has to prepare to deal with Memphis All-Star power forward Zach Randolph.
Randolph is a dominating presence who likes to use his hands on his opponents. He finished the season fourth in the league in rebounds, averaging 11.2 per game. He was first in offensive rebounds, with 4.1 per game.
“It’s going to be physical just like it always is,” Griffin said. “In the playoffs it’s another level. Doing it last year in seven games, I kind of have an idea of what to expect. So we’re looking forward to it.”
NBA playoffs
FIRST ROUND All times Central
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Eastern Conference
Boston at New York, 2 p.m.
Chicago at Brooklyn, 7 p.m.
Western Conference
Golden State at Denver, 4:30 p.m.
Memphis at LA Clippers, 9:30 p.m.
SUNDAY’S GAMES
Eastern Conference
Atlanta at Indiana, noon Milwaukee at Miami, 6 p.m.
Western Conference
LA Lakers at San Antonio, 2:30 p.m.
Houston at Oklahoma City, 8:30 p.m.
Sports, Pages 21 on 04/20/2013