MINNEAPOLIS — Center DeAndre Jordan scored a team-high 20 points, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a 110-106 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on Monday.
The game featured 15 lead changes, including seven times in the fourth quarter. Forward Blake Griffin’s lay-in with 25.5 seconds left gave the Clippers the lead for good.
The loss was Minnesota’s fourth consecutive and third straight on a four-game homestand that wraps up Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Griffin finished with 16 points and added 11 rebounds, and guard Chris Paul had 14 points and five assists for the Clippers (12-9). Guard Jamal Crawford added 14 points off the bench, shooting 4-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Minnesota was buoyed 59 points from its bench, including a game-high 21 from guard Zach LaVine and 14 from forward Gorgui Dieng. Forward Shabazz Muhammad had 13 points to go along with nine boards, falling one rebound shy of his second career double-double.
Rookie center Karl-Anthony Towns led the Minnesota starters with 18 points. Point guard Ricky Rubio added 16 points and seven assists for the Timberwolves (8-12).
The Clippers, beginning a five-game road trip, won for the fifth time in six games and improved to 3-4 away from Staples Center.
Jordan was a monster early, scoring 12 quick points, including eight points on follow-up dunks. He also had six rebounds as the Clippers led 29-25 after one quarter. He finished with 12 rebounds for his 11th double-double.
A 17-4 run by Minnesota through the early part of the second quarter, including a five-point burst by Towns, gave the Timberwolves their largest lead of the night at 49-41.
Towns had 10 points at halftime, and Minnesota led by two heading into the locker room.
The Wolves pushed their lead to six after the third quarter before a back-and-forth final frame.
The Clippers made all of their free throws down the stretch to remain in front. Los Angeles shot 89.7 percent (26-for-29) from the line compared to just 77.1 percent (27-for-35) for Minnesota.
NOTES: Clippers G Chris Paul originally was listed as out for Monday, but he was in the starting lineup after missing two games because of sore ribs. … Clippers G J.J. Redick was active despite an ankle injury. … Timberwolves F Kevin Garnett grabbed three defensive rebounds, leaving him four shy of Karl Malone’s all-time record. … The Clippers will continue their road trip Wednesday with a game against the Bucks in Milwaukee. … The Timberwolves will conclude a two-game homestand Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers.