Five takeaways from the Clippers’ 110-106 victory over Minnesota

It was one of those sloppy, error-filled games where style points were notably absent and it felt like the only thing that mattered was winning. The Clippers did just that, prevailing with a 110-106 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night at Target Center. Here are five takeaways from the game:

1. The Clippers won another game they could have lost. Things weren’t looking good when Minnesota’s Zach LaVine made a 19-foot jumper to give the Timberwolves a 98-95 lead with one minute left, but the Clippers rallied against one of the NBA’s younger teams for a second consecutive game. DeAndre Jordan blocked a shot by LaVine, Luc Mbah a Moute caused a turnover by contesting an inbounds pass that went off Andrew Wiggins, and the Clippers made 11 consecutive free throws over the game’s final 22 seconds to hold on for a pleasant start to their five-game trip. “We executed, we got every shot, we got every stop,” Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said. “That’s how you end games.”

2. The late-game defense-for-offense substitutions are working. Rivers has made a habit of subbing in Mbah a Moute and son Austin Rivers late in games to join starters Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and Jordan during defensive possessions, and it’s worked wonders. The Clippers did not allow a basket over the game’s final minute, the Timberwolves only scoring after the Clippers kept sending them to the free-throw line so they couldn’t take a three-pointer that could have tied the score. “That’s a great defensive unit for us and they’re starting to feel that way, which I think is really important,” Rivers said.

3. Paul and J.J. Redick were rusty as expected in their return. Paul’s return from the inflamed rib cartilage that had sidelined him since last week was especially surprising considering he was listed as out by the Clippers going into the game, but he played 31 minutes after going through a couple of workouts leading up to the game. Paul finished with 14 points and five turnovers to go with five assists. Redick’s shot wasn’t falling in his return from the sprained right ankle he suffered Wednesday against Indiana — he made only one of nine shots — but he was perfect from the free throw line, where he made all 11 attempts. “I always feel like the next shot’s going in,” Redick said, “whether it’s from the field or the free-throw line.”

4. Wesley Johnson was solid again while playing against his former team. That’s two consecutive strong games for the player known for playing well one game and then not doing much the next. He followed up his 21-point performance against Orlando with 10 points, two rebounds and two blocks against the Timberwolves, the team that selected him fourth overall in the 2010 draft. There was another area Johnson excelled in that pleased Rivers. “I thought Wes was phenomenal inbounding the ball to the right guys every time,” Rivers said. “Those are little things, but I’m telling you they pay dividends for your team.”

5. The Clippers will look to build on the good start to their trip against Milwaukee on Wednesday. The Bucks (9-13) have been one of the bigger disappointments in the Eastern Conference but have won their last two games, including a come-from-behind 90-88 victory over Portland on Monday night. Meanwhile, the Clippers (12-9) have a two-game winning streak of their own despite some ragged play. “We’ve still got some ways to go,” Paul said, “but we’re figuring it out. We’re winning. Our biggest thing is we’ve got to win games.”