Home Finale Is Quite a Joy Against Grizzlies

One by one, the Clippers gave selected fans the jerseys off their backs Tuesday. There was one final feel-good moment for the Clippers and their fans this season at Staples Center.

Well, actually, there were two. The Clippers dispatched the overmatched Memphis Grizzlies, 92-84, which was to be expected and helped to explain why not everyone in the sellout crowd of 20,264 stuck around for the final buzzer.

The Clippers finish on the road tonight against the Golden State Warriors. A victory would give them a 40-42 record, only two years removed from a 15-67 mark.

Only one team in NBA history, the Houston Rockets of the early 1980s, has gone from 15 victories to 40 or more in two years. The Clippers also could win 40 games for only the third time since the franchise relocated from San Diego in 1984.

“At this stage, any win is a great win for us,” Coach Alvin Gentry said after the Clippers ended a three-game losing streak. “We’re still trying to get to 40 wins, so there’s incentive for us to go up and win at Golden State. Forty wins just sounds so much better than 39.”

Center Michael Olowokandi scored 25 points and took eight rebounds to ensure the Clippers could still meet one of their remaining goals. Four other Clippers had 10 points or more, including Corey Maggette, who had 13 on six-for-nine shooting in only 24 minutes.

Pau Gasol led the Grizzlies with 19 points.

TONIGHT

at Golden State, 7:30

Site--The Arena in Oakland.

Radio--KXTA (1150).

Records--Clippers 39-42, Warriors 20-61.

Record vs. Warriors--2-1.

Update--Golden State, which will finish in last place in the Western Conference, has lost six in a row, including Tuesday at Sacramento.