Zach Zenner fumbled at the end of a 7-yard run

LOS ANGELES -- Despite being the NBAs hottest team, the Los Angeles Clippers believe there is room for improvement.At the end of the day, we like us, but as good as we are playing now, we could be playing a lot better, Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. I think that our guys believe that this is a different group, and it is. The bench is immensely different, and we have an amazing chemistry.The Clippers will shoot for their eighth consecutive win Wednesday night when they mix it up with the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center.Owners of the leagues best record, the Clippers (10-1) have dominated at home, winning five of six. Their home margin of victory is an average of 25.2 points per game. Overall, they have outscored the opposition by 183 points, the largest differential in the NBA.On Monday, the Clippers pounded the Brooklyn Nets 127-95 at Staples. Point guard Chris Paul led the way with 21 points, nine assists and five steals. The Clippers had 21 steals for the game.For us, its just about doing the right things consistently, said Clippers guard Jamal Crawford, who came off the bench to score 17 points against the Nets. No matter who we are playing, were all just working on us, so thats good for us.Defense has been the most consistent asset, as the Clippers lead the league in points allowed (92.2 per game) and points differential (plus-16.6). Los Angeles also is tops in opponents field-goal percentage at 40.9 percent.On offense, the Clippers are averaging 108.8 points per game, which is fourth best.Never known for its scoring prowess, Memphis has struggled on offense. The Grizzlies average 97.5 points per game, tied for 26th in the NBA. They are allowing 101.9 points (11th best).The Grizzles (5-5) are in the midst of a four-game road trip. After a 106-96 setback at Milwaukee to open the swing, they bounced back with a 102-96 decision Monday over the Jazz at Utah. It was the Grizzlies first win away from home after three defeats.I feel like this is the best four quarters weve put together, first-year Memphis coach David Fizdale said. They want to win. They really want this, and we worked really hard over the last couple of days to clean things up.Memphis center Pau Gasol added, The first half was really good as far as percentage goes. The second half we became a little more static but were able to find the open guy and execute a little bit, especially down the stretch.In addition to Gasol, Memphis is getting a lift from several of its veteran players, most notably 39-year-old forward Vince Carter, who is averaging 19 points on 60 percent shooting from the floor in the past three games.I just love the guy, Fizdale said, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal. How can you not root for one of the great citizens of this league? Everyone respects him. The locker room will do anything for him.Memphis guard Tony Allen (right groin) sat out his third consecutive game Monday. Brandan Wright (left ankle) has yet to play this season. Neither is expected to be available against Los Angeles.Clippers forward Wesley Johnson (left heel contusion) missed the past two games. Johnson said he expects to return for the Memphis game.The Clippers defeated the Grizzlies 99-88 in the teams initial meeting this season on Nov. 4 at Memphis. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . Hey!" The lower tier of the School End of Queens Park Rangers Loftus Road was packed solid with a very festive-sounding Chelsea choral section in this particular part of South Africa Road London, W12. Wholesale Bruins Jerseys . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . http://www.cheapbruinsjerseys.com/ . Pirlo limped out of Sundays 1-0 win over Udinese after just 13 minutes. Juventus says Pirlo underwent tests on Monday which revealed he has "a second-degree lesion to the collateral medial ligament in his right knee. Cheap Bruins Jerseys Authentic .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Cheap Bruins Jerseys . Marincin has played in two NHL games so far this season with two penalty minutes. The 21-year-old has three goals, four assists and a plus-5 rating in 24 games with the American Hockey Leagues Oklahoma City Barons this season. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Fans tend to view the Lions push to the playoff as a two-game season.Coach Jim Caldwell and his players refuse to look that far ahead. After losing 17-6 to the Giants on Sunday, Detroits focus is solely on the Cowboys and their meeting in Dallas on Dec. 26.I view it like Ive viewed it all season long, like Ive viewed it since Ive been here, Caldwell said. One game. Thats all were looking at. Get through this one, take a look at the film. Get ourselves corrected and look forward to the Cowboys coming up.The Lions (9-5) still control their playoff future. They can lock up the NFC North title by winning out. They are a game ahead of the Packers, who beat the Bears 30-27 on Sunday.Detroit closes out the season at home against Green Bay.But nobody in the Lions dressing room was looking beyond the Cowboys.Its going to be one, quarterback Matthew Stafford when asked about the two-game sprint to the finish. We just keep taking one at a time.The loss to Giants was a tough one. Both teams fought hard in a defensive struggle that snapped the Lions five-game winning streak.A positive for the Lions was another stout defensive effort. It was the eighth straight game in which they held an opponent to 20 or fewer points.Aside from Odell Beckham Jrs one-handed touchdown catch in the fourth quarter, the Lions were nip and tuck with a surging Giants team that has won eight of its last nine games.The Lions, who rallied in the fourth quarter to win in eight of their nine victories, never came close to a comeback in this one as the Giants made them play on a long field all day.Stafford didnt show any major issues playing with an injured middle finger on his throwing hand. He finished 24 of 39 for 274 yards and an innterception, finding Golden Tate eight times for 122 yards.ddddddddddddHe hung in there and fought, Caldwell said of Stafford. Obviously its going to be a little bit different for him, in terms of his adjustment. Well battle through it. Thats not the reason we lost the game today. Were not looking for any excuses.The biggest play for the Lions was a 67-yard throw from Stafford to Tate that gave the, first-and-10 at the Giants 11, trailing 7-3 in the second quarter. On first down, Zach Zenner fumbled at the end of a 7-yard run and Olivier Vernon recovered in the end zone.I thought I had it good on the exchange, but Ill have to look at the tape and see what happened, Zenner said. I thought I had a good grip on it and then the worst feeling in the world happened when the ball was loose.Matt Prater accounted for the Lions points with field goals of 48 yards in the second quarter and 33 in the third. The second cut the deficit to 10-6; New York had gotten a 47-yard field goal from Robbie Gould late in the second quarter.However, the Lions never got closer as New York limited Detroit to 5 of 14 on third downs and 324 yards in total.Now its on to Dallas for the Lions final playoff push.We dont like this feeling, Tate said. Were going to try and change that Monday (against Dallas). We need a great week of practice. Me personally, Im excited to get back out there and get this taste out of our mouths and keep it moving. We are right where we want to be. We just need to worry about us and play fundamental, sound football.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '