Los Angeles @ Memphis preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 2, 2018 ) Memphis 105, L.A. Clippers 113

The Los Angeles Clippers' surge into playoff contention in the Western Conference slowed considerably with losses in each of the last three games. The Clippers will try to right the ship and get back to .500 when they open a two-game road trip by visiting the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.

Los Angeles was riding high during a six-game winning streak that included victories over West leaders Golden State and Houston, but the defense struggled while allowing an average of 121.3 points in the three games since finishing up the winning streak with a 109-104 triumph over Denver on Jan. 17. "I thought we could have played better," Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters after a 113-102 home loss to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. "I thought defensively we didn't do a lot of things that I would like for us to do. It still would have been hard." The Grizzlies are pulling themselves out of the bottom tier in the West with wins in four of their last six but got a good look at just how far they are from the teams at the top during a 108-85 home loss to San Antonio on Wednesday. "We weren't following the game plan," rookie small forward Dillon Brooks told reporters. "We were not forcing (to the side), giving up middle. We lacked rebounds. We weren't sharing the basketball. We didn't compete hard enough on both ends. Very lackadaisical out there, need to change that around. Those are the things."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), FS Southeast (Memphis)

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (23-24): Los Angeles has battled injuries all season but got one important piece back on Wednesday, when center DeAndre Jordan (ankle) returned from a five-game absence and contributed 15 points and 14 rebounds in 31 minutes. "I thought he looked OK," Rivers said of Jordan. "I think he was explosive. He had a couple of dunks. You could see he was ready to play, but he clearly wasn't 100 percent. You could just see it because he didn't roll a lot tonight, which is part of our offensive package. He didn't get behind the defense a lot tonight. I was happy to have him on the floor." Jordan was held to nine rebounds in a 113-105 win over Memphis on Jan. 2, one of only seven times this season he failed to reach double figures.

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (17-30): Brooks was named to the world team for the Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star weekend and is averaging 14.2 points over the last six games. "He's a guy who does the things that you want from a guy who wants to be part of a winning culture," coach JB Bickerstaff told reporters of Brooks. "He's not a selfish player. Anything you ask him to do, he'll do. He plays the game the right way, he plays with a toughness. He plays with a grit. He's very coachable, so for him to get that honor just shows his character, his work ethic, his dedication to the game." Brooks is one of several young players getting a chance with the Grizzlies and was joined in the starting lineup on Wednesday by rookie power forward Ivan Rabb, who collected eight points and six rebounds in his first NBA start.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Grizzlies SG Tyreke Evans (illness) and PF Jarell Martin (knee, ankle) both sat out Wednesday and are day-to-day.

2. Clippers PF Blake Griffin is averaging 25.8 points over the last five games but is shooting just 24.1 percent from 3-point range in that span.

3. Memphis took two of the first three meetings, including a 115-112 home win on Dec. 23.

PREDICTION: Clippers 109, Grizzlies 106