LOS ANGELES // The situation looked bleak at best for coach Doc Rivers’ Clippers – down by four points with 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Then a couple of defensive stops, a huge turnover by Minnesota’s Kevin Martin, and two clutch baskets by Jamal Crawford forced overtime.
That’s where Jared Dudley and Chris Paul took over. Dudley made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 38 seconds remaining in OT and Paul added five free throws in the final 19 seconds, leading Los Angeles to a 120-116 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.
“The biggest thing we learned as a team from Doc is, even in practice, he talks about ‘The game is not over,” Paul said. “When we got down three or four there with seconds left, we could’ve said we lost this one. But we fought hard.”
Blake Griffin had 32 points and 10 rebounds and was 10-for-11 from the free throw line before fouling out with 4:08 left in OT. The defending Pacific Division champions extended their winning streak to a season-best five games while beating the Timberwolves for the eighth straight time, their longest current streak against any opponent.
Jamal Crawford had 22 points for Los Angeles, 7-4 since losing starting forward JJ Redick with a broken right hand and a torn ligament in his wrist but 5-0 since Crawford was moved into the starting lineup. Paul finished with 19 points and 13 assists.
Kevin Love had a season-high 45 points and tied a season best with 19 rebounds for the Timberwolves, back at Staples Center after their 104-91 loss to the Lakers on Friday night. It was Minnesota’s first overtime game since beating Orlando at home on opening night.
“We just blew it. Blew the game. I don’t know how else to say it. We blew the game,” Love said.
Nikola Pekovic had a career-high 34 points and 14 boards. Martin scored 16 points after averaging 29 in the Timberwolves’ other two meetings against the Clippers – also narrow losses. Point guard Ricky Rubio played 38 scoreless minutes with 12 assists.
“It was a tough loss for a lot of reasons. That’s all I have to say,” coach Rick Adelman said. “I don’t want to say anything. I don’t want to get fined.”
“We need to know how to win and play hard all the way to the end,” Pekovic said. “Winning is a habit, like everything else. We still need to get over the hump to learn how to close out these games.”
OTHER SUNDAY RESULTS
Pacers 106, Celtics 79
Paul George scored 24 points, guard Lance Stephenson had a triple-double and the Indiana Pacers defeated the Boston Celtics to improve the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Stephenson finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, his second triple-double in two games against the Celtics this season.
Pacers forward Danny Granger, playing just his second game this season after sitting out with a strained left calf, scored 12 points and made 4-of-5 three-pointers off the bench.
Indiana (22-5) won their second game in a row after losing three of five.
The blowout followed a 114-81 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday.
Avery Bradley scored 13 points and Jeff Green and Courtney Lee scored 11 points apiece for the Celtics (12-17), who entered the game tied for the Atlantic Division lead.
Raptors 104, Thunder 98
Kyle Lowry scored 22 points in leading the Toronto Raptors to a surprise victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The loss ended the Thunder’s 13-game home win streak to start the season. It also put a halt to a nine game overall win streak.
With 4:34 left in the fourth quarter, Raptors (11-14) guard John Salmons tied the game with a jumper. Center Jonas Valanciunas and Lowry scored five straight and the Thunder found themselves trailing 98-93 with 2:20 remaining.
Russell Westbrook paced the Thunder (22-5) with 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Kevin Durant scored 24 points on 5-for-16 shooting as the Thunder fell one night after beating West rival San Antonio.
