CLIPPERS' LOSS COSTLY T-WOLVES REGAIN WEST'S 8TH SPOT.

Byline: JOE STEVENS Staff Writer

LOS ANGELES - Coming into Saturday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Clippers were on track to meeting their expectatations this season.

They could have gone above .500, two games up on the Timberwolves for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Riding a five-game winning streak would have been nice, too.

But, thanks to 26 turnovers, none of that happened for the Clippers, who lost 101-87 to the Timberwolves at Staples Center.

The Clippers were down 11 points in the third quarter, but hung around enough to go up 81-80 with 6:36 left.

But Minnesota rattled off a 14-2 run to reclaim its 11-point lead and go up 94-83 with 2:55 left. Sam Cassell made a jump shot with 7:19 to play. The next Clippers field goal came with 1:18 left.

Elton Brand finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds, but Kevin Garnett's line was better as he had 32 points and nine rebounds.

The Wolves converted the Clippers' turnovers into 32 points and snapped a six-game losing streak. They also pulled into the eighth playoff spot. Although the Clippers and Wolves' records are even, the Wolves hold the tiebreaker with the Clippers.

Before the game, coach Mike Dunleavy offered various lines about the importance of his team's meeting with its ``eighth-seeded playoff spot rival.''

It was the teams' third and final meeting, after splitting two games in Minnesota. If the teams finish the season with the same record, the winner Saturday would be considered higher in the standings, if they finished tied.

``This is more than a game,'' he said. ``It's worth one and half or two games because of the tiebreaker.''

As far as facing a ``must-win'' game, he said, ``I think we've had a couple along the way. There have been certain games where we've been there and we said, `Look, based on the team we're playing tonight, we can't afford to lose to this team. We have to get a win. It has to happen.'''

Dunleavy put the Minnesota game in that category, and despite all that talk, the Clippers were horrible in the first half and found themselves down 46-38 at halftime.

The Wolves were competent, but came into the game in turmoil. They played the previous night in Seattle, were on their big losing streak, and this was the third game since coach Dwane Casey was replaced with Randy Wittman.

``I worry more about a team that's lost six in a row,'' Dunleavy said. ``Look, if either team has to motivate themselves, because it's so clear what the implications are, then I don't understand it.''

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Photo:

The Clippers' Sam Cassell fights for the ball with Minnesota's Ricky Davis as Kevin Garnett, right, rushes in to help his teammate Saturday at Staples Center.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

Box:

CLIPPERS at SEATTLE

- Joe Stevens