National Basketball Association

Fourth-quarter surge lifts Clippers over T-Wolves

Published Nov. 3, 2009 11:16 a.m. ET

foxsports

Rasual Butler and the Los Angeles Clippers lost their first four games and their injured No. 1 draft pick during an opening week that could only be described as horrific - or maybe Clipperific.

At least they capped that week with a tenacious final quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves to remove themselves from the list of the NBA's winless teams.

Chris Kaman had 25 points and 11 rebounds, Eric Gordon hit the go-ahead layup with 1:32 to play, and the Clippers surged in the fourth quarter to a 93-90 victory Monday night.

Butler's first start for the Clippers was an echo of this tumultuous start to Los Angeles' season. The new forward went 3 for 15 from the field and managed just 12 points, but still coolly hit four free throws in the final 19.4 seconds to hold off the Wolves' final rally.