Clippers 107, Timberwolves 99
LOS ANGELES -- Forward Blake Griffin had 26 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to 107-99 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday at Staples Center.
Point guard Chris Paul scored 20 points and recorded nine assists as the Clippers (9-8) posted their 13th straight win over the Timberwolves. Guard J.J. Redick scored 12 of his 18 points in the second half.
Forward Andrew Wiggins scored 21 points, guard Zack LaVine contributed 18 points and seven assists and center Karl-Anthony Towns registered 17 points and eight rebounds for the Timberwolves (8-9), who had their season-high three game winning streak snapped.
Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio sat out his second consecutive game with a sore left ankle.
Two free throws by Wigging pulled Minnesota within 88-83 with 4:03 left in the contest, but a 3-pointer by Redick, a baseline jumper by Paul and a three-point play by Griffin increased the margin to 96-83 with 2:42 remaining.
The Timberwolves started to intentionally foul Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, who converted three of eight free throws during the stretch and only three of 12 overall.
A turnaround jumper by forward Gorgui Dieng sliced the gap to 101-95 with 1:10 left, but Minnesota got no closer as Paul scored six points in the final minute.
The Clippers led 48-37 at the break. Shooting woes hampered the Timberwolves. They made just 30.8 percent of their shots the first quarter before managing 34.9 percent in the half. The Clippers hit 48.6 percent of their attempts before intermission.
Minnesota cut the deficit to 56-52 after a 3-pointer by Wiggins with 7:49 left in the third quarter but Los Angeles answered with a 15-5 surge after a layup by forward Lance Stephenson with 1:59 remaining for a 71-57 advantage. The Clippers led 71-61 heading into the fourth.
Clippers coach Doc Rivers used his eighth different starting lineup, inserting forward Luc Mbah a Moute for Wesley Johnson, who had started the past three games. Mbah a Moute, known more as a defender than scorer, finished with seven points.
Redick topped 6,000 career points with a bucket in the second quarter.
NOTES: Minnesota C Karl-Anthony Towns remained among rookie league leaders in several categories entering Sunday's game. Towns led all first-year players in rebounding at 9.4 per game, was No. 1 in blocks per game at 2.25, ranked second behind Jahlil Okafor of the Philadelphia 76ers at 14.2 points and third in field-goal percentage at .520. Towns also was tops in free-throw percentage at .907. ... Los Angeles failed to outrebound any opponent (it tied two teams) in its previous 16 games. ... The two clubs meet again Saturday at Target Center in Minneapolis. ... The Timberwolves begin a four-game homestand Tuesday when they face the Orlando Magic. ... The Clippers host the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.