Clippers come back for 110-105 win at Minnesota

The Clippers nearly ended their four-game trip on a low.

A real big low.

Playing against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are in last place in the Western Conference, the Clippers gave up an 18-point lead to narrowly escape with a 110-105 win on Monday.

The Timberwolves trailed by 18 points in the first half before going on a 31-10 run to lead by two points at halftime, 60-58.

In the fourth quarter, the Clippers led by eight points before the Timberwolves went on a run to cut the deficit to one, 102-101, with just under two minutes remaining.

The Timberwolves had possession with 14.9 seconds left and the Clippers up by three, 108-105. Gary Neal shot a three-pointer, but he missed. Dahntay Jones was then fouled and made two free throws to give the Clippers the win.

It was the Clippers’ 11th straight win over the Timberwolves.

The Clippers finished their trip with a record of 3-1. They have won seven of their last nine games, each of which were without Blake Griffin, who has been sidelined since Feb. 8 because of a staph infection in his right elbow that required surgery.

The Clippers were led by Chris Paul, who finished with 26 points and 14 assists. Paul entered Monday’s game one assist shy of Kevin Johnson’s assist total of 6,711, which put Johnson at 18th overall. Paul is now 18th with 6,724 career assists.

DeAndre Jordan had his ninth consecutive game with 15 or more rebounds, finishing with 18 boards and 12 points against the Timberwolves.

The Clippers were very short-handed Monday. They were playing without Griffin and Matt Barnes (strained hamstring), then Jamal Crawford suffered a right calf contusion and played only 11 minutes and 21 seconds. J.J. Redick also left early after being ejected late in the fourth quarter for exchanging words with a referee.

Glen Davis and Austin Rivers combined for 25 points off the bench. Redick added 18 points and Jordan Hamilton, whom the Clippers recently signed to a 10-day deal, started and had 10 points. Spencer Hawes added eight points on an unimpressive three for 12 shooting, but he made a big three-pointer with 1 minute and 32 seconds left and the Clippers only up by one.

The Timberwolves (13-46) were led by Gary Neal, who had 19 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

The Clippers (40-21), who are in fifth place in the Western Conference, will now return home to host the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.