Clippers Slip Past Timberwolves

Even though it’s only three games into the season, it still doesn’t just roll off the tongue.

But it is the Clippers -- yes, the Clippers -- who are undefeated after squeezing past Minnesota, 100-99, in overtime at Staples Center on Saturday.

It’s the first 3-0 start for Los Angeles since the 1985-86 season.

Elton Brand had 27 points and nine rebounds for Los Angeles. Cuttino Mobley contributed 22 points and 12 rebounds. Kevin Garnett led Minnesota with 25 points and had a game-high 15 rebounds.

Minnesota (1-2) had only one lead on the night (97-95) after a layup from former Clipper Marko Jaric with 1:31 left in overtime.

On the Clippers’ next possession, Mobley drove down the lane and dunked to tie the score. Then rookie Quinton Ross drained a 16-footer to give the Clippers the lead. Mobley added a free throw that proved to be margin of difference.

“If we had led all the way and let them steal it at the end, it would have seemed like some of last year’s woes,” Brand said. “You don’t want to make a big deal out of three games, but it is a great start.”

Mobley could have given the Clippers a three-point lead with nine seconds to play in overtime but missed a 15-footer. The Timberwolves collected the rebound and called timeout to set up a final shot.

The Clippers used their final foul on Garnett with six seconds remaining. The Timberwolves took the ball out and got it right back to Garnett, who put up a three-footer that bounced around and finally bounced off the rim as time ran out.

“Even early in the season this was a huge gut check,” Mobley said. “It was an ugly win, and we still have to play them on Monday. But we played OK.

“We didn’t turn the ball over much, but our shot selection was a little bad. We had some trouble with their zone. We’re going to look over that and see what we can do.”

The exciting finish made up for a mostly sleepy pace, as if both teams, each having played on Friday, knew energy conservation was the key to winning on Saturday. Even the crowd seemed listless; most of the volume was venom toward former Clipper Michael Olowokandi, who was showered with boos every time he touched the ball. And there was a sprinkling of half-hearted catcalls for Jaric as well.

Brand (11 points) and Mobley (10 points) were the most consistent scoring threats for Los Angeles in the half. Olowokandi -- 11 points on five-of-10 shooting -- was making his presence felt along with Garnett (nine points, 10 rebounds).

But the Timberwolves, too often, were a one-and-done attack against the Clippers defense, which held the visitors to a 38.1% success rate from the field (16 of 42).

In the second half, it appeared the Clippers found a second gear, pushing the lead to 68-56 and holding on to a 76-67 margin after three quarters.

But in the fourth quarter, Minnesota got a rush of energy from guard Troy Hudson and finally earned its first tie. The Timberwolves tied the game twice more, the second on Garnett’s 12-footer with 7.3 seconds left to play to force the overtime.