The Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies, two Southwest Division squads mired in early-season mediocrity, collide at FedExForum in a matchup that could ignite desperate turnarounds. With both teams nursing lengthy injury lists and recent inconsistencies, this contest hinges on veteran poise from James Harden and Kawhi Leonard against Memphis’ youthful frontcourt led by Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey. The Clippers, fresh off snapping a five-game skid with a dominant road win over Atlanta, aim to build momentum on their grueling road trip, while the Grizzlies seek to rebound from a narrow loss in San Antonio without star guard Ja Morant. Expect a rebounding war—Memphis’ league-third-ranked 46.5 RPG versus LA’s paint vulnerabilities—potentially turning into a gritty, half-court grind. This is the third meeting of the season (Grizzlies lead 1-1), following a 112-107 Memphis road upset in November.
Venue and Game Details
Location: FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee (home of the Memphis Grizzlies; capacity: 18,119). The downtown arena, opened in 2004, has been a mixed bag for the Grizzlies this season (4-6 home), but its passionate “Grit and Grind” crowd often fuels upsets against West foes.
Tipoff: 8:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m. PT)
Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast (Grizzlies local), FanDuel Sports Network Sun (Clippers local), NBA TV (national). Streaming on NBA League Pass and Fubo.
The Clippers continue a five-game road swing (1-2 so far), while Memphis opens a four-game homestand after a 3-1 road trip.
Team Records
| Team | Overall Record | Home/Away Split | Conference Standing | Recent Streak |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 6-16 (.273) | 1-9 home / 5-7 away | 13th in Western Conference (10.0 GB behind OKC) | W1 (2-8 in last 10) |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 9-13 (.409) | 4-6 home / 5-7 away | 9th in Western Conference (6.0 GB behind OKC) | L1 (5-5 in last 10) |
The Clippers rank 25th in scoring (112.5 PPG) but 19th in defense (117.5 allowed), with a -5.0 net rating. The Grizzlies are 23rd offensively (113.6 PPG) and 17th defensively (117.0 allowed), propped by elite rebounding (+2.5 margin, 3rd).
Recent Team Forms
The Clippers have endured a nightmare November (2-13), but their latest: a cathartic 115-92 rout of Atlanta on December 3, where Harden (27 PTS, 8 AST) and Leonard (21 PTS) dismantled a shorthanded Hawks squad post-Chris Paul release. Prior: a humiliating 140-123 blowout loss at Miami on December 1 (Harden 25 PTS, but defense collapsed allowing 24 threes).
Over the last 5 games (1-4): W 115-92 at ATL, L 123-140 at MIA, L 102-105 vs. ATL (Nov. 28? Wait, sequence: L at MIA, prior L vs. DAL 121-116 Nov. 30, L 107-112 vs. MEM Nov. 28, L 101-95 at MEM Feb ’24 carryover but recent L at GSW). Average: 113.6 PPG scored, 121.4 allowed (-7.8 margin). Road form offers hope (5-7, +0.2 margin away), but turnovers (15.3/game, 22nd) and poor three-point D (37.2% opp, 28th) persist.
The Grizzlies have stabilized sans Morant, winning five of 10 with frontcourt muscle. Latest: a tough 126-119 road loss at San Antonio on December 2 (Edey 19 PTS/15 REB, Jackson Jr. 7 PTS limited). Before: a gritty 115-107 home win over Sacramento on November 30 (Edey career-high 32 PTS/17 REB).
Over the last 5 games (3-2): L 119-126 at SAS, W 115-107 vs. SAC, W 112-107 at LAC (Nov. 28), W 121-118 vs. POR (Nov. 26), L 110-112 at SAC (Nov. 24). Average: 115.4 PPG scored, 114.0 allowed (+1.4 margin). Home defense solid (114.2 allowed at FedExForum), but three-point shooting lags (33.7%, 27th); they’ve covered 4/6 as underdogs.
Injury Report
Injuries continue to decimate both rosters, with Memphis missing key guards and LA thinning its wings. Updates fluid; fatigue from Clippers’ road trip and Grizzlies’ recent travel could factor.
| Team | Player | Status | Injury/Details | Impact |
| Clippers | Bradley Beal (G) | Out (Season) | Hip surgery recovery (postseason; no return timeline) | Scoring punch (pre-injury: 18.2 PPG); backcourt reliant on Harden (usage up 5%). |
| Clippers | Bogdan Bogdanovic (G/F) | Out | Left hip contusion (missed 6 straight; re-eval Dec. 6) | Sharpshooter (13.0 PPG, 2.2 3PM); spacing drops (team 3PT% -3.1% without). |
| Clippers | Derrick Jones Jr. (F) | Out | Knee (Grade 2 sprain; 4-6 weeks since Nov. 17) | Athletic defender (10.5 PPG); wing depth hit, Leonard logs 36+ MPG. |
| Clippers | Jordan Miller (G) | Questionable | Back (day-to-day; GTD vs. MEM) | Depth guard (8.0 PPG); if out, bench scoring thins further. |
| Grizzlies | Ja Morant (G) | Day-to-Day | Right calf strain (since Nov. 23; GTD but expected out until Dec. 7) | Star creator (17.9 PPG, 7.6 APG pre-injury); Grizzlies 5-5 without, AST -3.8/game. |
| Grizzlies | Ty Jerome (G) | Out | Calf (6-9 weeks since Nov. 22; re-eval Jan. 15) | Backup PG (9.2 PPG); point guard depth crisis (4 guards sidelined). |
| Grizzlies | Scotty Pippen Jr. (G) | Out | Toe (since Nov. 15; re-eval Dec. 7) | Sixth man (12.5 PPG); further backcourt strain. |
| Grizzlies | Brandon Clarke (F) | Out | Knee (6-9 weeks since Nov. 11; re-eval Dec. 30) | Versatile forward (8.5 PPG); frontcourt rotation to Edey/Aldama. |
| Grizzlies | GG Jackson (F) | Out | Knee (no timeline; missed 10+) | Young scorer (11.0 PPG); spacing suffers. |
Key Player Matchups
With guard depth depleted, this shifts to frontcourt physicality and perimeter creation. Grizzlies’ rebounding tests Clippers’ paint D, while LA’s vets exploit Memphis’ three-point woes.
James Harden (LAC) vs. Cam Spencer (MEM): Harden’s orchestration (26.9 PPG, 8.4 APG) vs. Spencer’s rookie D (14.3 PPG, 3.0 3PM last 10). Spencer limited creators under 20 recently. Edge: Harden.
Kawhi Leonard (LAC) vs. Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM): Leonard’s efficiency (27.5 PPG on 49.6% FG last 6) vs. Jackson’s blocks (17.8 PPG, 1.0 BPG). Jackson held Leonard to 22 in Nov. upset. Edge: Leonard.
Ivica Zubac (LAC) vs. Zach Edey (MEM): Zubac’s boards (12.0 RPG) vs. Edey’s rookie dominance (15.3 PPG, 12.3 RPG). Edey owned paint in 32/17 vs. SAC. Edge: Edey at home.
Kris Dunn (LAC) vs. Santi Aldama (MEM): Dunn’s steals (8.0 PPG, 1.6 SPG) vs. Aldama’s versatility (13.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG). Aldama’s 46.6% FG exploits switches. Edge: Aldama.
Bench: John Collins (LAC) vs. Jaylen Wells (MEM): Collins’ double-doubles (12.0 PPG, 5.1 RPG) vs. Wells’ scoring (16.7 PPG). Depth for rebounding swings. Edge: Wells.
Monitor Memphis’ 46.5 RPG vs. LA’s 41.7 allowed (25th); Clippers’ 84.3% FT edges foul battles.
Series History
The Clippers-Grizzlies rivalry, rooted in the 2013 playoffs (Memphis’ 4-2 First Round win), features 112 regular-season games with LA holding a narrow edge. Recent tilts are competitive.
All-Time Regular Season: Clippers lead 60-52 (53.6%). Last 10 RS: Clippers 6-4.
All-Time Playoffs: Grizzlies lead 6-4 (one series: 2013 WCSF MEM 4-2).
Overall: Clippers 64-58 (52.5%).
Recent: Grizzlies won last meeting 112-107 (Nov. 28, 2025 at LAC). Clippers won prior 128-114 (Feb. 12, 2025 at LAC). In last 5: Split 3-2, averaging 116.4-110.6 scores (Clippers +5.8 margin). Overs hit 60%.
Home teams win 55% ATS; rebounding winner takes 75% of games.
Betting Trends
Spread: Clippers 9-13 ATS overall (5-7 road). Grizzlies 9-13 ATS; 4-6 home. Trend: Road teams cover 4/6 last in series.
Moneyline: Clippers 4-10 as favorites; Grizzlies 2-12 as +110+ dogs.
Total: 13/22 Clippers overs (59%); Grizzlies 8/22 overs (36%). Last 5 H2H: 60% over. Trend: Unders 5/7 Grizzlies home; overs 6/10 Clippers road.
Predicted Score: Memphis Grizzlies 114, Los Angeles Clippers 110
Game Odds
Los Angeles Clippers – 1.5
Memphis Grizzlies 224.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, December 4, 2025
