Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (left) puts up a shot as Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin defends on Friday. Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

This time, the fourth quarter belonged to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Long the domain of the Clippers' Chris Paul, it was the Grizzlies who rallied in the closing minutes to beat Los Angeles 90-88 and force a decisive seventh game in their playoff series.

Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph worked their inside-out game to perfection on a night when Paul and Blake Griffin were limited by injuries and the Clippers' bench couldn't quite put them over the top.

"This one has to hurt," Paul said. "If it doesn't hurt, it means you don't care."

Gasol scored 23 points, Randolph had 18 points and 16 rebounds, and Rudy Gay and Mike Conley added 13 points each to help the Grizzlies win for the first time in the Western Conference series at Staples Center and stave off elimination.

"We were very focused on our task defensively and that's a big reason we won," said Gasol, whose brother Pau will play a Game 7 with the Los Angeles Lakers against Denver at Staples on Saturday night. "We were way more disciplined. The whole team is doing a better job of finding me in the post."

Griffin scored 17 points despite a sprained left knee that limited his jumping ability, and Eric Bledoe added 14 off the bench to lead the Clippers, who blew an eight-point lead in the fourth along with a second consecutive chance to close out what would have been a landmark playoff victory for the beleaguered franchise.

"Right now is not the time to start pointing the finger," Griffin said.

Paul scored 11 points playing with a strained right hip flexor and a jammed right middle finger.

"I didn't know he was hurt," Randolph said. "Everybody's hurting. My knee is hurting. I ain't looking for no excuse. You got to put that in the back and keep playing."

The Clippers are seeking the third playoff series win in franchise history. Game 7 will be on Sunday in Memphis.

"It's uncharted territory for us as a team," Clippers second-year coach Vinny Del Negro said. "We got to stay together, battle through it and give our best effort of the season."

Only eight teams in NBA history have come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a seven-game series. Top-seeded San Antonio awaits the winner in the conference semifinals.

"All of this means nothing because it's a one-game series," Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said. "Everyone has a chance to win."

Tied 66-all starting the fourth, the Clippers scored 10 straight to take their first lead since the game's opening minutes, led by Bledsoe's six points.

"It was looking bleak at that time," Hollins said.

The Grizzlies weren't done.

They went on a 17-4 run, including 10 straight points, to take an 85-80 lead. Gay scored five in a row as the Clippers missed and Randolph came up with a block. Conley hit a 3 and Randolph tipped in the ball to close out the spurt.

"We stuck together and finished the game," Randolph said. "That's what coach has been preaching."

(China Daily 05/13/2012 page7)