CLIPPERS REACH 3-0 WITH OT WIN CASSELL SWAP LOOKS GOOD AS HE BESTS JARIC CLIPPERS 100, MINNESOTA 99 (OT).

Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer

Cuttino Mobley talked about a ``gut-check.'' Mike Dunleavy considered the win a ``positive step forward'' for his Clippers.

The Clippers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 100-99 overtime win in front of 16,212 Saturday night at Staples Center to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 1985.

Somehow, Kevin Garnett missed a two-foot jump shot at the buzzer in overtime to give the Clippers the win. The Clippers' Zeljko Rebraca was sent into the game with a foul to give and 9.4 seconds left, and Rebraca did his duty by fouling Garnett with 6.4 seconds with no free throws rewarded. But coach Mike Dunleavy stuck with Rebraca on Garnett rather than having someone else switch onto the Timberwolves' superstar.

``First of all, I think he does a decent job on Garnett,'' Dunleavy said of Rebraca. ``The other reason is that Elton (Brand) had five fouls, so if the game went to another overtime, I didn't want to be at risk with E.B. not being on the floor, and (Chris) Kaman also had five fouls.''

About his defense on Garnett, Rebraca said, ``He missed the shot. Maybe I did something to help him miss. I don't know.''

Minnesota never led in regulation, and the Clippers led by 12 points in both the second and third quarters.

But the Timberwolves hung around, and former Clipper Marko Jaric gave them their first lead, 97-95, with 2:01 left in overtime, on a layup in which he was fouled but didn't convert the three-point play.

The Clippers answered back as Mobley dunked with 1:46 left and Quinton Ross made a jump shot with 1:26 left to take a 99-97 lead. Then, the Clippers just couldn't put it away.

Mobley made one of two free throws with 41.5 seconds left, then another former Clipper, Troy Hudson, made a layup with 33.3 seconds left to pull the Timberwolves to within a point, 100-99.

Mobley, who finished with 27 points and a career-high 12 rebounds, had another chance to give the Clippers a three-point lead, but he missed a jump shot.

``Basketball is like life, man,'' Mobley said. ``It's only in a faster pace. You only got 48 minutes (on Saturday, 53 minutes). Life gives you your ups and downs.

``One minute, you might be happy. The other, you might be sad. In basketball, one minute you might be up 10. The next minute, you might be down five.''

The Clippers could have concluded their basketball life in the typical 48 minutes on Saturday, but Cassell just missed an underhand scoop shot at the buzzer.

Brand had 27 points. Garnett finished with 25 points and 15 rebounds, and Hudson added 21 points.

--Notes: Corey Maggette (strained left hamstring) missed a third consecutive game, but said his health was at 95 percent and that he was close to playing. He expects to make his season debut during the team's upcoming four-game trip, but isn't sure which game. ... Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa sat center court Saturday night with Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling.

Joe Stevens, [phone]

joe.stevens(at)presstelegram.com

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Photo:

Minnesota's Troy Hudson, left, goes up for a shot against the Clippers' Sam Cassell on Saturday.

Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images