Doc Rivers encouraged by Clippers' winning streak

Clippers guard Jamal Crawford, right, is congratulated by teammate DeAndre Jordan after scoring the tying basket to send Sunday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves into overtime. The Clippers went on to win in the extra period, 120-116.

By Broderick Turner

Dec. 23, 2013 9 AM PT

The Clippers are one of four teams in the Western Conference that has won 20 games, one of six in the entire NBA.

At 20-9, the Clippers have the fourth-best record in the West.

But what has encouraged Coach Doc Rivers the most are the improvements his team has been making.

Rivers saw a lot of that Sunday night, when the Clippers didn’t give in to the pressure and pulled out a hard-fought victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“I just like that our team is coming together,” Rivers said. “That’s good for us. A win like this, that’s good. These are the type of wins that bring your team closer and closer and closer and closer together. So I like that.

“We have a long ways to go in my opinion as far as play. But the one thing that is clear is that our team is coming together and that’s a big thing for us.”

The Clippers didn’t practice Monday but they will practice Tuesday in preparation for their Christmas-night game against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland on Wednesday.

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