MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Memphis coach Lionel Hollins backed off a comment he made on Monday night when he told a TNT sideline reporter that "Chris (Paul) does a good job of flopping."

"Flopping was the wrong word to use," Hollins said. "At that moment, I couldn't think of a better word. It was a first-quarter interview on national TV, but I retract that word. But he's good at drawing fouls and putting you in a position where he'll get you behind him and see you. He'll stop and make you run into him. Chris is just a great player."

Told of Hollins' remark after the Clippers' 101-97 overtime victory, Paul brushed it off.

"I don't care what he's talking about," Paul said. "He's got a team over there he has to worry about."

Despite Hollins' about-face, Memphis guard O.J. Mayo persisted in his criticism of what he perceives as a trademark strategy of the Clippers, who lead the series 3-1 ahead of Wednesday night's Game 5 in Memphis.

"Both teams are trying to play physical, but one team is a little better at acting than the other team," Mayo said. "Those guys do flop. They're great players. It's working. They're getting to the free-throw line. They're able to put their opponent in foul trouble. If that's what it takes to get the job done, I guess we all need to start doing it."

Paul has maintained his steadfast denial that flopping exists as a tactic. Asked whether the Clippers had gotten into the Grizzlies' heads, Paul was dismissive.

"I don't know and I could care less,"Paul said. "We don't go out there with the objective or game plan to get in their heads. We want to win the game."

In contrast to Paul, Clippers forward Blake Griffin admitted that, in a playoff series especially, his team will more readily try to sell foul calls to officials.