Clippers forward John Collins drives as Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey, right, and forward Jaren Jackson Jr., left, defend during the first half on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey grabs a high pass as Clippers guard Cam Christie defends during the first half on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Memphis Grizzlies guard John Konchar, left, and Clippers forward Nicolas Batum vie for a loose ball during the first half on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Clippers guard Cam Christie, left, shoots as Memphis Grizzlies guard John Konchar defends during the first half on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. passes the ball as Clippers guard James Harden, center, and forward John Collins, right, defend during the first half on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Clippers guard Cam Christie grabs a rebound as Memphis Grizzlies guard John Konchar defends during the first half on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Santi Aldama goes high as Clippers forward John Collins (20) defends during the first half on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Clippers forward John Collins, right, and Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey reach for the ball during the second half on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Memphis Grizzlies guard John Konchar, right, shoots as Clippers guard Kobe Sanders defends during the second half on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey, left, and Clippers forward Kobe Brown vie for the ball during the second half on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Santi Aldama (7) drives to the basket as Clippers forward Nicolas Batum, left, defends during the second half on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Cam Spencer celebrates after forcing a turnover by the Clippers during the second half on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Clippers forward Kobe Brown, left, rebounds against Memphis Grizzlies guard John Konchar during the second half on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Cedric Coward (23) goes up to shoot with Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) defending during the second half on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Cam Spencer tries to get past the defense of Clippers forward John Collins (20) and guard James Harden (1) during the second half on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Clippers guard James Harden, center, is pressured by Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells, left, and guard Cedric Coward, right, during the second half on Friday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells, left, is defended by Clippers guard James Harden as he drives to the basket during the second half on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Cedric Coward walks off the court after their victory over the Clippers on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
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Clippers forward John Collins drives as Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey, right, and forward Jaren Jackson Jr., left, defend during the first half on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The struggling Clippers put together a strong first half, but they were outkicked to the finish line in a 107-98 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 24 points and eight rebounds to lead the Clippers, who saw the Grizzlies close the game on a 9-0 run over the final 3:40 to hand them their ninth loss in the past 11 games.
James Harden had 18 points and seven assists, John Collins scored 16 points and Kobe Brown had a season-high 13 points.
The teams exchanged leads through the fourth quarter and were tied at 98 with 3:40 left when Harden hit a pair of free throws, his only points of the second half. At that point, there had been 10 lead changes and nine ties with neither team leading by more than eight points.
Memphis took the lead for good at 100-98 on a fast-break dunk by Jaylen Wells. Jaren Jackson Jr. and rookie Cedric Coward followed with baskets for a 104-98 lead.
The Clippers led 96-95 with 6:46 to go following a 3-pointer by Brown, but they only managed the two free throws by Harden the rest of the way and shot 5 for 17 from the field in the fourth.
Leonard entered Friday’s game having averaged 29 points in the team’s previous three outings, but he had only four points in the fourth.
Coward finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds, including four points and a steal in the closing 2:17, as one of five Memphis players to score in double figures. Wells added 17 for the Grizzlies, and Cam Spencer came off the bench to contribute 17 points and seven assists for Memphis, which won for the sixth time in eight games.
Jackson, who was held to two points in the first half, finished with 13, seven of those coming in the final quarter. Zach Edey had 10 points and eight rebounds.
The Grizzlies, who trailed by four at the half, built an eight-point lead midway through the third quarter. Wells was the catalyst. During a 10-2 run, he scored eight straight points and Memphis went ahead 72-64.
Leonard and Harden scored 16 points each in the first half to lead the Clippers to a 58-54 halftime lead. Their production overcame 56.4% shooting by the Grizzlies in the opening half, with the hosts getting 10 points apiece from Spencer and Edey.
The Grizzlies defeated the Clippers, 112-107, a week ago at the Intuit Dome.
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The Clippers play at Minnesota on Saturday at 5 p.m. PT.