Rowan Kavner
MINNEAPOLIS – A Clippers team that had given up fourth-quarter leads early in the season has returned the favor in two straight wins.
The Clippers trailed by three points with a minute left, yet before the final buzzer, the Clippers had already sealed the deal enough for the Target Center crowd to begin filing out in a 110-106 Clippers win.
A 98-95 deficit with a minute remaining became a one point Clippers lead 35 seconds later. Jordan did what he had done all throughout the start of the game, catching a lob and throwing it down.
The Clippers’ center finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks. He started the game on fire offensively, getting buckets near the rim at will. The Clippers began the game with a 12-7 lead, at which points Jordan had three more points and as many rebounds as the Timberwolves. Just six minutes into the game, Jordan had 12 points and five rebounds.
Jordan’s late finish came on a lob from Jamal Crawford, who then assisted on another basket near the rim from Blake Griffin, who had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and gave the Clippers’ a one-point lead. Tight defense from Luc Mbah a Moute on an inbounds pass then forced a turnover, and the Clippers, who trailed by three points, suddenly led by a point with the ball and 24 seconds remaining
Chris Paul and J.J. Redick both returned after missing the majority of the last two games, and it was Redick and Jamal Crawford who would seal the win at the line, giving the Clippers their 14th straight win against the Timberwolves.
