The Clippers’ Paul George dribbles past the defense of the Grizzlies’ De’Anthony Melton during the first half of Saturday night’s game at Staples Center. George had 41 points and 10 rebounds and shot 15 for 25 overall and 5 for 12 from 3-point range in the 120-114 loss. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant and Clippers guard Terance Mann compete for the ball during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Clippers forward Paul George shoots over Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant shoots under pressure from Clippers center Ivica Zubac and guard Eric Bledsoe, right, during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue talks to the team during the first half of Saturday’s game against the Grizzlies at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Memphis Grizzlies center Steven Adams is defended by Clippers center Ivica Zubac during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins calls a play Clippers coach Tyronn Lue calls a play during the first half of Saturday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Clippers forward Paul George drives against Memphis Grizzlies center Steven Adams during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Clippers guard Paul George looks on during the first half of Saturday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe goes to basket while defended by Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Clippers guard Paul George tries to steal the ball from Memphis Grizzlies center Steven Adams during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Clippers guard Reggie Jackson, right, drives against Memphis Grizzlies forward Kyle Anderson during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
The Clippers’ Nicolas Batum, left, steals the ball from the Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant looks to pass the ball while defended by Clippers center Isaiah Hartenstein and guards Terance Mann (14) and Luke Kennard, right, during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant passes the ball while defended by Clippers center Isaiah Hartenstein and guard Terance Mann, right, during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
The Clippers’ Paul George dribbles past the defense of the Grizzlies’ De’Anthony Melton during the first half of Saturday night’s game at Staples Center. George had 41 points and 10 rebounds and shot 15 for 25 overall and 5 for 12 from 3-point range in the 120-114 loss. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. , right, is defended by Clippers forward Paul George, top left, and guard Eric Bledsoe during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Clippers center Isaiah Hartenstein dunks against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Clippers center Isaiah Hartenstein celebrates after a dunk as the Grizzlies’ De’Anthony Melton looks on during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Clippers center Isaiah Hartenstein celebrates next to Memphis Grizzlies guard De’Anthony Melton after dunking during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Clippers guard Reggie Jackson strips the ball from the Grizzlies’ Kyle Anderson during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Clippers’ Ivica Zubac, right, and Paul George box out Grizzlies center Steven Adams during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue yells to his team during the first half of Saturday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant splits the defense of the Clippers’ Ivica Zubac, left, and Eric Bledsoe during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac and Grizzlies guard De’Anthony Melton battle for a loose ball during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac and Grizzlies guard De’Anthony Melton battle for a loose ball during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant dribbles past Clippers center Ivica Zubac during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Clippers center Isaiah Hartenstein steals the ball from the Grizzlies’ Kyle Anderson during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr., left, and Clippers center Isaiah Hartenstein battle for a loose ball Clippers center Ivica Zubac and Grizzlies guard De’Anthony Melton battle for a loose ball during the first half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue calls a play during the second half of Saturday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Nicolas Batum dunks against the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant and Coach Taylor Jenkins confer during the second half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. shoots as Clippers center Isaiah Hartenstein, left, defends during the second half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Clippers forward Paul George gestures during the second half of Saturday’s game against the Grizzlies at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Memphis Grizzlies guard De’Anthony Melton is defended by Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe during the second half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant goes to the basket as Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe defends during the second half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe loses the ball dribbling into the defense of Grizzlies center Steven Adams during the second half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue calls a play during the second half of Saturday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Clippers forward Paul George loses the ball while defended by Memphis Grizzlies center Steven Adams, left, and guard De’Anthony Melton during the second half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Yves Pons goes up to basket under pressure from Clippers guards Eric Bledsoe, right, and Terance Mann during the second half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins calls a play Clippers coach Tyronn Lue calls a play during the second half of Saturday’s game against the Clippers at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe dribbles past the defense of the Grizzlies’ Ziaire Williams during the second half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Clippers forward Paul George gestures during the second half of Saturday’s game against the Grizzlies at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant drives against Clippers center Isaiah Hartenstein, left, during the second half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
The Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane reacts to a blocked shot during the second half of Saturday’s game against the Clippers at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue calls a play during the second half of Saturday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe protects the ball from the Grizzlies’ Sam Merrill during the second half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane shoots in front of Clippers forward Paul George during the second half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue substitutes for center Ivica Zubac during the second half of Saturday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Clippers’ Luke Kennard grabs a rebound in front of the Grizzlies’ Sam Merrill during the second half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Clippers’ Marcus Morris Sr. loses control of the ball as the Grizzlies’ Sam Merrill defends during the second half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Clippers’ Terance Mann looks on during the second half of Saturday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Memphis Grizzlies guard De’Anthony, left, is defended by Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Grizzlies won 120-114. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
The Clippers’ Luke Kennard shoots in front of the Grizzlies’ Ziaire Williams during the second half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Clippers forward Nicolas Batum, left, consoles Terance Mann after he fell on a shot attempt during the second half of Saturday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. battles for position against Clippers center Isaiah Hartenstein during the second half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe gets past the defense of the Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane (22) and Sam Merrill (15) during the second half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr., right, and De’Anthony Melton, left, try to box out Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr. during the second half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Paul George is fouled by the Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. during the second half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Paul George talks with referee Brett Nanzel during the second half of Saturday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer reacts during the second half of Saturday’s game against the Grizzlies at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant shoots over Clippers guard Reggie Jackson during the second half of Saturday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer reacts during the second half of Saturday’s game against the Grizzlies at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Injured Clippers star Kawhi Leonard looks on from the bench during the second half of Saturday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
White T-shirts are displayed in the seats before an Saturday’s game between the Clippers and the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
LOS ANGELES — Paul George made a public pledge before tip-off on Saturday night, grabbing a microphone and addressing the 16,748 fans at Staples Center for the Clippers’ home opener: “All season long, we’re gonna play hard.”
Few could question their effort against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Clippers played with characteristic verve, fighting back to lose a nail-biter for the second time in as many games this young season. They fell 120-114 in their home opener.
So the effort is there. What needs work is execution, sustainable execution. Also: communication, transition defense, boxing out.
Otherwise, even a performance as sparkling as George’s on Saturday – 41 points on 15-of-25 shooting to go with 10 rebounds in 35 minutes – isn’t getting the job done.
“Hopefully we don’t have to rely on him each and every night to have 40 just for us to have a chance to win,” Clippers guard Reggie Jackson said. “Hopefully we have some easy ones where he can get rest.
“We depended upon him heavily last year, we’re depending upon him heavily this year, so …. we’re gonna have to figure things out as a team, we’re gonna have to get better as a team, shore up some things, go back to the drawing board and come out and get ready for the next one.”
George’s exploits didn’t get the Clippers through the finish line with a win against the Grizzlies, who finally put away the Clippers on backbreaking shots by Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. in the final minute of the game.
Starring guard Ja Morant led the way for Memphis with 28 points (shooting 10 of 18) and eight assists. North Hollywood native and former USC standout De’Anthony Melton went 4 for 8 from 3-point range and grabbed seven rebounds.
Reggie Jackson finished with 17 points for L.A., which also got double-digit scoring from Eric Bledsoe (12), Luke Kennard (10) and, in his Clippers debut, Isaiah Hartenstein (11).
A nine-point Hartenstein run helped the Clippers build a 13-point lead in the second quarter, but that advantage shrunk to three by halftime and disappeared entirely fewer than two minutes into the third quarter, when the Grizzlies (2-0) tied it 64-64.
Memphis turned the momentum in its direction, pulling ahead by 16 points, 91-75, with 4:15 to play in the third, when it outscored the Clippers 38-27.
But George was true to his word, doing what he could to rev a Clippers’ comeback.
He scored 27 points in the second half, when he went 9 for 15 from the floor, 3 for 7 from 3-point range and shot and made all six of his free throws – his first free-throw attempts this season.
George keyed an 11-0 run over a span of 1:45 late in the third quarter that shaved 10 points off of what had been a 16-point lead. He turned the corner and flew in for a two-handed dunk that cut the lead to 91-81. He followed a Nicolas Batum 3-pointer with one of his own to make it 95-89.
But the go-go Grizzlies kept the Clippers at arm’s length as their diminutive lineup battled with 6-11 strong man Steven Adams, whose 17 points were the fewest of the Grizzlies’ starters, all of whom finished in double figures.
George hauled in six of his rebounds in the second half, including a defensive board that led to a Bledsoe transition bucket to cut it to 111-106. A pair of made free throws from George got the Clippers closer yet, 111-108 with 3:30 to go.
George countered a Morant basket with his fifth 3-pointer to make it 114-112.
And after Bane answered that with a bucket to make it 116-112, George drove in for a tough double-clutch layup that cut it to 116-114.
Finally, Jackson Jr.’s 3-pointer with 17.5 seconds left silenced the Clippers’ retorts.
“I’m happy we fought, but that can’t be who we are,” George said. “We gotta come in, we gotta do our job, we gotta win games. With that though, we have to play hard, and so I know it was a moral victory in Golden State, but tonight, we gotta do a better job. We gotta come out first, establish who we are. Playing hard should be a given. We gotta win games.”
They looked, for a spell in the first half, as though they might have it in hand.
Hartenstein, who beat out Harry Giles III as the Clippers’ third center during training camp, checked in and said hello for the first time with 4:46 left in the first quarter.
During a minute and a half long stretch early in the second quarter, Hartenstein scored nine points on a free throw and an array of moves at the rim: a 2-foot layup; a dunk off of a Bledsoe pass; an alley-oop flush off a pass from Nicolas Batum, and finally, a layup off of a pass from Mann. All of it bumped the Clippers’ lead to 40-34.
“He did a good job for us, first game,” Lue said. “I thought he rolled to the basket, some good plays around the basket, around the rim and when that second unit came in they picked up our energy and he was part of that. He played really well, got a little tired but that could be just from the excitement of the first game but I thought he did a good job.”
