Clippers Baffle the Timberwolves Again

Like losing a best hair award to Don King, the Minnesota Timberwolves gained an honor Thursday night they surely would love to give back.

Losing a season series to the Clippers.

For the second time in three games, the Clippers took an early lead against the Timberwolves and then made enough plays down the stretch to earn a rare victory, 99-91, before a crowd of 7,205. It was only the fourth victory in 34 games for the Clippers, still trying to avoid the distinction of the worst team in NBA history.

Their 4-30 record raised their winning percentage to .118. The all-time worst mark is .110 set by Philadelphia in 1972-73 when the 76ers finished 9-73.

The Clippers didn’t do anything special to defeat Minnesota, which played without injured point guard Terrell Brandon and shot only 42.4% from the field. They just didn’t fall apart completely down the stretch to end a six-game losing streak.

“We defended for the whole fourth quarter [that was the difference from previous losses],” said Maurice Taylor, who returned to the lineup after sitting out two games because of sore Achilles’ tendons. “Early on in the fourth quarter, we were too aggressive. We were fouling too much and all they were doing was shooting free throws . . . Coach [Chris Ford] sat us down and told us to just play straight up man and that’s what we did.”

After blowing a late lead Tuesday night in a loss to Phoenix when the Suns went to a trapping half-court defense in the second half, the Clippers had to return to basics to overcome Minnesota’s late defensive charge.

Instead of forcing passes, the Clippers took their time and attacked Minnesota to keep a lead that they almost gave away. After leading by as much as 13 points early in the fourth quarter, the Clippers needed a three-point play, two free throws and a key rebound from Taylor to help secure the win.

“Mo Taylor played outstanding after missing the last couple of games,” Ford said. “And he got . . . eight rebounds!”

Throughout the season, Ford has criticized Taylor’s poor rebounding numbers. Against Minnesota, Taylor was more active under the boards, finishing with a game-high 20 points and eight rebounds.

The Timberwolves, who would qualify for the playoffs if they started today, can only blame themselves for their lackluster effort for the first three quarters. They shot poorly, turned the ball over and basically played like the Clippers until a frantic late rally.

Kevin Garnett led the Timberwolves with 15 points but made only seven of 25 shots from the field. If not for Minnesota’s bench, which had four players score in double figures, the Timberwolves probably would have been blown out.

“We shot the ball very well tonight,” Ford said about the Clippers’ 49.3% shooting from the field. “Our foul shooting was good, our rebounding too. All down the line, it was a good win.”

The Clippers, who made 22 of 26 free throws and outrebounded Minnesota, 44-38, got a huge boost from point guard Sherman Douglas. Showing that an in-shape Douglas is a much different player than the version the Clippers saw two months ago, the veteran had a season-high 16 points and added four assists.

Lamond Murray found his shooting stroke to score 14 points off the bench but all five Clipper starters scored at least 10 points. Tyrone Nesby had 12, Eric Piatkowski 11 and Michael Olowokandi 10.

For a while in the fourth quarter, the Clippers looked like they were ready to fold again.

After a Nesby free throw put the Clippers ahead, 88-77, with less than five minutes remaining, Minnesota ran off seven consecutive points.

Ford threw a mini-tantrum when Taylor threw an in-bounds pass over the head of Nesby.

The Clippers, however, regrouped and the closest Minnesota came was 91-88 with 33.4 seconds left.

“Today we felt real good before the game, everyone showed signs of readiness,” Douglas said. “The fact that we had Mo Taylor back was a major key, he always scores for us and tonight he came up big.”