LOS ANGELES — Forward Andrew Wiggins scored 31 points, helping the Minnesota Timberwolves snap a 14-game losing streak to the Los Angeles Clippers with a 108-102 victory Wednesday night at Staples Center.
Minnesota center Karl-Anthony Towns, who went scoreless in the first half after foul trouble limited him to 11 minutes, scored 13 of his 17 points in the third quarter. Towns also had 12 rebounds.
Guard Zach LaVine came off the bench to score 17 points for the Timberwolves, who also snapped a five-game losing streak and a 12-game road skid. Forward Gorgui Dieng added 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Point guard Chris Paul had 22 points and eight assists, guard Jamal Crawford scored 21 points, and center DeAndre Jordan collected 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Clippers, who had a four-game winning streak end.
Two free throws by Crawford tied the score at 96 with 2:01 remaining, but LaVine put Minnesota back up 98-96 on bucket inside with 1:49 remaining.
Jordan tied the score again by slamming an alley-oop pass from Crawford at 1:05, but Wiggins hit a jumper with 47.6 seconds left to give Minnesota the advantage again.
After Los Angeles forward Wesley Johnson, who scored 12 points, missed a 3-pointer, Rubio made two free throws with 37.2 seconds left. Jordan’s dunk cut the lead to two again 10 seconds later.
However, Rubio hit two of three foul shots after he was fouled and Paul was assessed a technical foul with 20 seconds remaining. That gave Minnesota a 104-100 lead. A turnover by Clippers guard J.J. Redick, who managed just five points on 1-of-9 shooting, gave Minnesota possession again.
A bucket by Towns gave Minnesota a six-point cushion before two free throws by Paul sliced the deficit to four again. Forward Tayshaun Prince sealed the win with two foul shots with 12.2 seconds left.
The Clippers (32-17) held a 55-53 lead at the break before the Timberwolves (15-36) rallied in the third quarter.
Clippers guard Austin Rivers was ejected with 8:10 remaining in the second period after picking up two technical fouls for arguing a non-call. Rivers finished with four points in seven minutes.
NOTES: The bench has been among the Clippers’ strengths recently. The reserves, who tied a season high with 58 points to only 18 for the Chicago Bulls’ backups in Sunday’s 120-93 rout, have outscored the opposition by at least 15 points in each of the past four games. “How many teams come off the bench with Jamal Crawford, whose got three 50-point games in his career?” said Minnesota interim coach Sam Mitchell of the Clippers’ backup guard, who scored 26 against Chicago. “In any quarter, he can score in double digits. He can just kill you by himself.” … Injured Clippers F Blake Griffin will not travel with the club regardless of the NBA’s ruling on a possible suspension. The Clippers kick off their four-game swing Friday at the Orlando Magic. … The Timberwolves host the Bulls on Saturday.