2015 NBA scores: Clippers’ win makes West more confusing and 3 other things we learned

Los Angeles beat the Grizzlies and now four teams are tied in the loss column with one or two games left to go.

by Tim Cato

Apr 12, 2015, 1:00 PM UTC

Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

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NBA schedule: Clippers top Grizzlies, lay claim to West No. 2 seed

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If the Grizzlies had won their final three games, they would have been locked into the West's No. 2 seed, no questions asked. Instead, a 94-86 loss to the Clippers on Saturday dropped them into a taxing four-team race that has the entire Western Conference playoff picture a convoluted mess.

It's not Memphis' fault it has to deal with injuries at the worst possible time. Already missing Mike Conley and Tony Allen coming into the game, Marc Gasol left early and Beno Udrih had to come out late, leaving the Grizzlies short-handed in one of the most important games of the year. They kept the game close until late in the fourth quarter, when Chris Paul and Blake Griffin were just too much to handle.

There’s a reason Paul is constantly mentioned as a dark horse MVP candidate -- he has no shot of winning, but the argument is mostly for recognition of how incredible of a season he’s having. Paul and Griffin have perfected the pick-and-roll and are complementary partners for each other, moving fluidly into simple action early in the shot clock and probing until a crack appears in the opposition.

Paul finished with 15 points and 14 assists while Griffin had an off-shooting night, but still managed to complete several key plays in the final minute for 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists overall.

The Clippers’ win puts them in good position to take home court advantage as they head into the playoffs. Three of the top four spots go to division winners, and since winning the Southwest is an automatic tiebreaker, Los Angeles is an outside shot to take the No. 2 seed. With one more victory and the right combination of wins and losses in the season’s final few days, though, they could be hosting the opening two games in the Staples Center.

The Grizzlies are still in the driver's seat for the No. 2 seed if they can beat Golden State and Indiana in their final two games. The exception is, of course, if it's three-way tie between them, the Clippers and the Rockets. In that case, because of a confusing tiebreaker, the Spurs would take that second spot in the West.

And remember: the NBA playoffs start in one week.

3 other things we learned

Derrick Rose is looking more like himself and it's so good to see. In his first two games back, Rose was understandably shaky, with seven combined turnovers and poor shooting. On Saturday, he played a much smarter game, showing longer flashes of the brilliant MVP Rose we all quietly hope will return one day. In the 114-107 win against Philadelphia, Rose scored 22 points on 19 shots, didn't commit a turnover and went to the line seven times. He still shot five three-pointers, which is arguably too many, but you've got to start somewhere. It's just good to see him still flash moments of brilliance.

The Knicks had a eight-point quarter and still won. To be fair, they actually gained ground in that atrocious quarter because the Magic only scored seven points themselves. Yes, that's a combined 15 points, which makes it the lowest scoring quarter in NBA history since the shot clock era began. Now, when we say New York's season is historic, we're not just saying it because they're the only team to play Andrea Bargnani, Cole Aldrich and Alexey Shved in the same game. (Also, the franchise has lost more games this season than any other.)

Here’s the final shot chart. Please advert your eyes if you have a low tolerance for graphic images.

Portland is limping into the playoffs like a wounded battleship to port. Wesley Matthews went down for the year and his replacement, Arron Afflalo, just sprained his shoulder and will be out for two weeks. C.J. McCollum filled in admirably for both on Saturday against the surging Jazz, but Portland still lost 111-105. While the Jazz have played well since the All-Star break, this was not that team: Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors both sat out the game. That the Blazers still couldn't pick up a win against a depleted squad doesn't bode for the playoffs.