Preview: Clippers vs. Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies currently have the top record in the NBA and have won 21 consecutive regular-season games on their home court.

The Grizzlies’ locker room struggled with a stomach bug earlier this week, having to send five players home early from Toronto because of illness. It looked as though most of the team had recovered by Friday, though, as Marc Gasol tied a career-high 32 points and Jon Leur, who had caught the early flight home from Toronto, had 19 points in 22 minutes in the team’s 117-100 win over the Boston Celtics.

Starting guard Tony Allen and reserve swingman Quincy Pondexter did not play in Friday’s game. They are both listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. The Grizzlies, however, could see the return of guard Nick Calathes, who has been serving a 20-game suspension for violating the league’s antidrug policy that started during last season’s playoffs.

The Clippers, who are on their third game of a seven-game road trip, have been playing exceedingly well away from their home court. They had lopsided victories over the Orlando Magic and the Miami Heat, outdoing their opponents a combined 82-58 in the paint over those two games.

In fact, in the Clippers’ four road games so far this season, they’ve been better in nearly every statistical category than in their home games.

They are averaging 111.5 points on the road, 98.9 at home. They are shooting 51% from the field on the road, 45.2% at home. From beyond the three-point line, they are shooting 43.3% on the road and 33.5% at home. They are making 78.8% of their free throws on the road, while making 73.7% at home. They are averaging 26.5 assists on the road, while averaging 22.1 at home. They are averaging eight steals on the road, while averaging 6.7 at home.

The Clippers and the Memphis Grizzlies are known for playing extremely physical, intense basketball when they meet. They’ve recently played twice in the postseason, the Clippers winning Game 7 of a first-round playoff series against Memphis in 2012 before returning the next year and being eliminated in the first round during a Game 6 blowout.

Power forward Zach Randolph is averaging 16.5 points and 12.1 rebounds for the Grizzlies, and center Marc Gasol is averaging 19.1 points and 7.8 rebounds.

Clippers small forward Matt Barnes is expected to play despite experiencing soreness in his left calf.