"Occasionally, Tony Allen can simply be known as "The Closer."

Allen only plays spot duty for the Grizzlies. He's always prepared and ready to cover the opposition with his defensive intensity.

That couldn't have been more evident Saturday afternoon when Allen tied his team record with four steals in the fourth quarter of the Grizzlies' 84-83 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Staples Center.

Memphis (10-14) ended a four-game road trip by winning back-to-back games when Clippers guard Baron Davis' 18-footer bounced off the rim as the final buzzer sounded.

Allen, the veteran guard signed during the offseason, drew special praise from Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins afterward.

"Tony Allen demonstrated a professionalism I want all our guys to understand," Hollins said. "He's in good shape. He's always ready and he doesn't complain."

Plus, the Griz wanted to slow Clippers guard Eric Gordon. He led the Clippers with 25 points but had just six in the final frame.

Allen logged 16 minutes after hardly playing on the trip.

"You've got to stay humble and do what's right for the team," Allen said of his preparedness. "Right now, I'm just trying to fit in and be the defensive guy they need. I'm always paying attention to the flow of the game. I always study offensive sets and try to find weakness."

Rudy Gay gave the Griz a lead for good with a dunk that put them ahead 80-79 with 2:35 left. The Griz soon held a three-point advantage after Mike Conley fed Allen for a dunk off a backdoor cut along the baseline."