Final
Paul leads Clippers past Timberwolves
Nov 29, 2012 - 8:11 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Chris Paul tallied 23 points and 11 assists in the Los Angeles Clippers' 101-95 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.Chauncey Billups made his season debut for Los Angeles after missing the first 14 games while recovering from surgery to repair a torn left Achilles tendon. Billups suffered the injury on Feb. 6 in Orlando, ending his first campaign with the Clippers after 20 games. He finished with seven points and nailed his first shot from the floor, a 3-pointer.
Blake Griffin had 18 points and six rebounds for the Clippers, who snapped a four-game losing skid.
"It feels real good to be back, it feels great," Billups said of being back. "I never lost faith. I worked my behind off, and I am back. It is going to take a while, but as long as I am out here I am happy with that."
Kevin Love finished with 19 points and 12 boards for Minnesota, which has dropped six of its last seven contests.
"When they get physical, we have to get physical. We played hard, we just have to finish," Minnesota head coach Rick Adelman said.
A 10-2 Clippers run, capped on a Griffin dunk, gave the hosts a 90-85 lead with 3:02 to play.
The Wolves clawed back, though, and Alex Shved's triple pulled Minnesota within 95-93 with 23 ticks to play.
But DeAndre Jordan was left unaccounted for at the other end as he slammed home Paul's lob from midcourt and Shved then turned the ball over at the other end.
Paul hit four free throws over the final 11 seconds to seal the outcome.
Earlier, the Wolves led, 28-23, after a quarter of play, but the Clippers outscored Minnesota, 34-27, in the second as they took a 57-55 cushion into the break.
Minnesota took a 77-76 edge into the final frame.
Game Notes
The Wolves had beaten the Clippers three straight times when they had Love in the lineup ... Billups was 1-of-5 from the field -- all three-point attempts ... Minnesota turned the ball over 20 times, which led to 19 Los Angeles points.
- MINNESOTA: 95
LOS ANGELES: 101
Final
Nov 29 1:02 AM - MINNESOTA: 77
LOS ANGELES: 76
End of 3rd
Nov 29 12:20 AM - MINNESOTA: 55
LOS ANGELES: 57
Halftime
Nov 28 11:35 PM - MINNESOTA: 28
LOS ANGELES: 23
End of 1st
Nov 28 11:04 PM - MINNESOTA: 0
LOS ANGELES: 0
1st Quarter - 11:59
Nov 28 10:41 PM
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