Kevin Love hit a tie-breaking three-point shot from the top of the key at the buzzer Friday night, giving the Minnesota Timberwolves a 101-98 comeback victory over the Los Angeles Clippers before a stunned crowd at Staples Center. The loss snapped a seven-game home winning streak for the Clippers.
The Clippers led by as many as 12 points in the fourth quarter, but Ricky Rubio tied the game with a three-pointer from the right corner of the floor with 20 seconds remaining. The three-pointer was Rubio's first made field goal of the game, as the point guard began the game 0-for-10, but still had six rebounds, six assists, and three steals to go with his nine points.
Love had 17 points and 14 rebounds for Minnesota, his 16th consecutive double-double to start the season. On the ESPN broadcast, it was noted that Love has the longest string of double-doubles to open a season since Moses Malone began his 1981-1982 MVP campaign with 16 straight.
Mo Williams had a game to remember for multiple reasons. He scored 25 points, including 21 in the first half, on 10-of-15 shooting, and had five assists and a steal in 31 minutes off the bench. But he also picked up a technical foul with 6:21 remaining in the game for arguing a foul called against him. That technical foul happened to be the second of the game for Williams, who was automatically ejected. The technical foul on Williams came in the midst of a 13-2 run by the Timberwolves that cut the Clippers' lead to just one point with 4:37 remaining.
Blake Griffin scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Clippers, his eighth consecutive double-double. DeAndre Jordan had 11 boards and three blocked shots. Chauncey Billups scored 20 points, including 16 in the second half.
Darko Milicic scored 22 points to lead the Timberwolves before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.
The Clippers next host the Toronto Raptors on Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.
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