Clippers Come Up Empty After Late Cold Spell

The Clippers went cold in the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter and it cost them Wednesday night in a 110-100 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, their sixth defeat in seven games.

The Clippers scored only two baskets in the first 7:51 of the quarter as Chuck Person scored nine of his 18 points in a run to help Minnesota end a five-game losing streak.

Thurl Bailey completed a three-point play that sent the Timberwolves on a 22-13 run over the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter, giving them a 96-87 lead.

Ron Harper scored five straight points to cut the deficit to four points, but Doug West sparked a 10-2 Minnesota run with a pair of three-point plays in a span of 26 seconds to make it 106-94 with 1:04 to play.

Elmore Spencer had scored eight points in a 16-3 run that gave the Clippers a 67-59 lead with 4:20 left in the third quarter. The Timberwolves responded by scoring 15 of the final 22 points in the quarter, including six by West, to even the score, 74-74, before breaking away in the final quarter.

West scored 27 points as the Timberwolves recorded their 20th victory, one more than they had last season. Minnesota has won six of its last 33 games.

Dominique Wilkins led all scorers with 34 points, but made only 11 of 28 shots.

The Timberwolves trailed throughout the first quarter, but a 13-2 spurt, led by four points from Bailey, gave them a 41-35 lead with four minutes left in the half. Wilkins scored 16 points in the opening half for the Clippers, who stayed within 48-45 at intermission.

While one of Minnesota Coach Sidney Lowe’s goals was to surpass last season’s victory total of 19, he downplayed the 20th win.

“It just feels good to get a win,” he said. “We’re still fighting and trying to play for some pride.”

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Clipper forward John Williams was put on the injured list with a small fracture in his left ankle.

Williams was injured in Tuesday’s victory over Denver.

He has played in 29 games, averaging 5.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists.

The Clippers activated forward Tom Tolbert.