Quick Facts
- Date: May 3, 2013
- Location: FedExForum, 191 Beale Street, Memphis, Tennessee
- Teams: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Clippers (Western Conference First Round, Game 6)
- Final Score: Grizzlies 118, Clippers 105 (Memphis wins series 4–2 after trailing 0–2)
- Key Figures: Zach Randolph (“Z‑Bo”), Blake Griffin, Mike Conley, Chris Paul
- Notable Incident: Randolph and Griffin wrestled to the floor in the third quarter; each drew personal fouls and Randolph received a technical. Randolph was later ejected with 1:57 remaining after a second technical.
Main Story
In a charged Game 6 at FedExForum—steps from Beale Street in the 901—the Memphis Grizzlies eliminated the Los Angeles Clippers, 118–105. Midway through the third quarter, Zach Randolph and Blake Griffin became entangled while battling for position and fell to the floor. Video and contemporaneous reports noted Randolph briefly placed a hand to Griffin’s neck during the scrum. Officials assessed personal fouls to both players and a technical to Randolph; no flagrant fouls were issued on the play. Later, with the outcome all but settled, Randolph received a second technical and was ejected with 1:57 left.
Beyond the dust‑up, Memphis embodied its “Grit and Grind” identity. Randolph finished with 23 points as the Grizzlies won their fourth straight to take the series 4–2—becoming one of the rare NBA teams to win a best‑of‑seven after trailing 0–2, and the first to claim the next four all by double digits. Griffin, limited by a high ankle sprain, came off the bench and played 14 minutes. The victory advanced the Grizzlies to the Western Conference Semifinals, a step on the path to the franchise’s first Western Conference Finals later that spring.
Legacy
For the Bluff City, the incident—and the series it punctuated—helped cement how the Grizzlies reflect Memphis history and civic pride: tough, unpretentious, and unafraid. In the FedExForum stands, the “Grit and Grind” ethos resonated as more than a slogan, tying modern basketball memories to the cultural heart of Beale Street. This night remains a touchstone for Grizzlies fans, a reminder of how Memphis teams and communities alike turn adversity into identity.
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