LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Clippers are 0 for 2 in closeout games, and now their playoff future comes down to a decisive Game 7.

Win and the franchise can savor a landmark series victory. Lose and the Clippers will face the same derision that has dogged them for years.

“It’s do or die now,” Blake Griffin said.

The Clippers put themselves in this must-win situation by blowing an eight-point fourth-quarter lead in a 90-88 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.

“We didn’t want to go back to Memphis, not `til sometime next season,” Chris Paul said.

That’s where Game 7 is Sunday.

“We can’t hold nothing back,” Paul said.

The Grizzlies were their usual physical selves in evening the series.

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

“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 Bledsoe added 14 off the bench to lead the Clippers, who missed their second chance to close out what would have been a huge move forward for a franchise in the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

“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 just the third playoff series win in franchise history.

“It’s uncharted territory for us as a team,” 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.”

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

“It was looking bleak at that time,” Hollins said.

But 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 big block. Conley hit a 3-pointer and Randolph tipped in the ball to close out the spurt.