AP News, January 1st, 2008
Chris Kaman had 16 points and 16 rebounds to help the Los Angeles Clippers rally to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 91-82 on Monday night.
Cuttino Mobley scored 18 points and Corey Maggette added 17 for the Clippers, who snapped a six-game losing streak and a seven-game home skid despite missing all 14 3-point attempts.
Al Jefferson led Minnesota with 23 points and 15 rebounds, while Ryan Gomes added 17 points and 15 rebounds.
The Timberwolves, who traded Kevin Garnett to Boston on July 31 and have played without injured point guard Randy Foye since the start of the season, are off to the worst start in the franchise's 19-year history (4-26) and own the league's worst record. They would have to go 12-40 the rest of the way to avoid tying their worst record ever, which was 15-67 in 1991-92.
Minnesota increased its five-point halftime lead to 70-59 heading into the fourth quarter, but couldn't put away the Clippers, who had lost all 17 games this season when trailing after three. Maggette's three-point play capped a 15-0 run that gave Los Angeles a 74-70 lead with 7:24 to play.
The Timberwolves missed their first 10 shots in the final period before Craig Smith converted a layup into a three-point play with 6:59 left. But The Clippers clinched it at the free throw line, making seven of nine in the final 1:44.
Notes:@ This was the first time the Timberwolves played on New Year's Eve in their 19-year history. The Clippers, who had never played on New Year's Eve during the franchise's first 32 seasons in Buffalo, San Diego and Los Angeles, have now done it in six consecutive years — all at home (3-3). ... The Clippers were 36-45 in 2007 and the Timberwolves were 23-62. ... Ten of the Clippers' 13 games in January will be at home. Their first seven in February will be on the road. ... The Clippers were the only Western Conference team that Minnesota won a season series from in 2006-07, taking two of three. ... The only teams Minnesota has beaten this season are Sacramento, New Orleans, Phoenix and Indiana. ... Clippers F Tim Thomas sat out with a sprained left knee.
