Brand, who has benefited enormously from having Cassell back in the team, shot a game-high 34 points as the Clippers dismantled their opponents and started on the long road back to being a play-offs contender. Cassell added 21 points and 14 rebounds from his 36 minute on the court but LA coach Mike Dunleavy admitted after the game that he is still short on conditioning.

27 points form Pau Gasol wasn’t enough to reverse the fortunes of Memphis head coach Tony Barone who has a record of 4-7 since being appointed in the wake of Mike Fratello's firing late last year.

With the home team leading by four points at the first break 28-24, the Clippers broke the game wide open in the second shooting a season-high 39 points for the period while the Grizzlies could only manage 12.

The Grizzlies would be left to rue the second term after keeping pace with LA in all other periods.

In other NBA news, Hornets leading scorer David West - in his second game back after two months on the sidelines due to injury - continued to improve firing a game-high 26 points to help New Orleans down NBA giants the Lakers 113-103.

West led from the front while Kobe Bryant managed 23 after a slow start for the Lakers.
But it was Rasual Butler who made the tough shots in the clinches for the Hornets shooting a three-pointer over Bryant to give New Orleans a 102-96 lead. Bryant was equal to the task though, shooting three of his own at the other end, then getting blocked by Butler on a drive to the basket the next time the Lakers had the ball.
Butler recovered the ball going coast to coast and firing another 3-pointer and after Bryant failed to make a long range shot for the Lakers, West nailed the jump-shot for a 107-99 Hornets lead. Bryant tipped in his own shot for two to get within six, but that was as close as the Lakers would get.

In other matches the bobcats rolled Atlanta, the Nick just got past Indiana Sacramento was smashed by Detroit, the Nets downed the Magic, the Wizards win again beating Boston, the Bulls were no match for the Jazz, the Nuggets Beat the rockets and the Cavs fell across the line against Golden State.

Sunday NBA results (US):
Memphis bt. LA Clippers 112-91
New York Nicks bt. Indiana 108-106
Charlotte bt. Atlanta 104-85
Detroit bt. Sacramento 94-71
NO/Oklahoma city bt. Lakers 113-103
New Jersey bt. Orlando 101-94
Washington bt. Boston 115-110
Utah bt. Chicago 95-85
Denver bt. Houston 121-113
Cleveland bt. Golden State 106-104