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MINNEAPOLIS -- The excuses came ready made for the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night. Blake Griffin and Jamal Crawford were out with injuries. They were playing their fourth game of a five-game road trip. Chris Paul would have none of that. "I said, Fellas, lets be who we are. We got who we got, lets keep the train moving," Paul told them. "We said, No excuses." And no mercy on a Minnesota Timberwolves team that just wants this massively disappointing season to end. Darren Collison had 28 points and seven assists, and the Clippers didnt miss a beat with Griffin out with a back injury in a 114-104 victory. Paul had 22 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, and Matt Barnes scored 19 points for the Clippers (53-22). Griffin, the teams leading scorer, warmed up before the game but wasnt quite ready after being injured on Saturday night against Houston. Jared Dudley started in his place and scored 16 points, while DeAndre Jordan grabbed a career-high 24 rebounds to help the Clippers pull within two games of Oklahoma City for the second seed in the West. "Everyone keeps track," Dudley said. "We know we have another game against (the Thunder) at home and were just trying to win every game. We want that 2 seed and we know the 1 seed could be tough because San Antonio hasnt lost in a month or so." Kevin Love had 20 points, 13 rebounds and four assists for the Wolves. Crawford was out with a calf injury, but a lacklustre effort by the Wolves starters on the second night of a back-to-back made up for his absence. "Theyve got to bust it," Wolves coach Rick Adelman said. "They owe themselves that. Owe their teammates that; owe the organization, the fans." The Clippers hit 12 of 30 3-pointers and blew the game wide open with a 31-5 run in the third quarter. The Wolves led 59-57 early in the period, but Collison scored 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting in the quarter. The Clippers put their foot on the gas, scoring 13 points in transition during the surge, and punctuating it with a lob pass from Paul to Jordan for an 86-64 lead. Nikola Pekovic left seven minutes into the game when his bothersome right ankle flared up again, and only a spirited effort by Shabazz Muhammad (11 points) and the Timberwolves bench in the fourth quarter kept the game from getting out of hand. The Clippers went 13-2 in March, their second-best month in franchise history, and have won 16 of their last 18 to improve to more than 30 games over .500 for the first time in the teams 44-year history. And Paul has instilled this team with a nastiness that could serve it well in the post-season. With a 14-point lead and just over four minutes to play, the 6-foot Paul went up to swat a dunk attempt by Minnesotas 6-foot-11 rookie Gorgui Dieng. Paul was called for a foul, but he also sent Dieng crashing to the court. Message delivered. "Thats the attitude that we have to have that no matter what the obstacles you just keep playing," coach Doc Rivers said. "We have enough guys, and thats what we talked about today. We didnt mention the injuries. ... You just go out and play and itll work out if you believe that and play well." The Timberwolves were supposed to be in the playoff picture with the Clippers this season, but their 36-37 record to this point makes them one of the biggest disappointments in the league. Ricky Rubio had just three points on 1-for-6 shooting with five turnovers, Love was 8 for 21 and Kevin Martin was a non-factor with 12 points on 4-for-14 shooting. "Its definitely tough right now," Love said. "Weve got to try to finish this thing strong and just try to play well. ... Were a little beat up right now, but we still have to come and play and try to give it our best. But thats a very good team right there." NOTES: The Clippers hosted Iowa coach Fran McCaffery and his 14-year-old son, Patrick, who had a malignant tumour removed from his thyroid last month. Paul has been a vocal supporter of Patricks ever since first hearing about the boys situation. Patrick is a big fan of Paul, and the All-Star guard called him the day before he had surgery. ... Glen Davis had two points in four minutes after getting sent to the locker room against Houston for what Clippers coach Doc Rivers called an attitude problem. ... Love set the franchise record for made free throws in the first quarter, surpassing the 465 made by Tom Gugliotta in 1996-97. Yadier Molina Jersey . Solomon Elimimian did not make the trip with the team after suffering what appeared to be a right leg injury in the teams regular season finale against the Calgary Stampeders. Mark McGwire Jersey .com) - It appears both the Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls will reach the playoffs, but the two squads are coming off losing efforts. http://www.cardinalsrookiestore.com/Cardinals-Keith-Hernandez-Kids-Jersey/ . But luckily for the Canadian squad, one goal was all it needed. Winnipegs Sophie Schmidt scored the winner off a Diana Matheson corner kick to seal Canadas third-place spot in the Torneio Internacional de Futebol Feminino in Brazil on Sunday. Lou Brock Jersey . According to TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie, the deal will pay Schenn $2.25 million in the first year and $2.75 million in the second year. In 82 games with the Flyers in 2013-14, Schenn scored 20 goals and added 21 assists. Kolten Wong Jersey .com) - The Golden State Warriors have started another winning streak and theyll try to pad it Tuesday night when they head to Staples Center to face the Los Angeles Lakers.Divock Origi scored the goal and Jurgen Klopp took the applause, but it was the efforts of Liverpool’s much-maligned defensive figures that stood out in their 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund, writes Adam Bate. Get the popcorn out. That was the mood as Liverpools supposedly calamitous defence prepared to take on one of the strongest forward lines in Europe. Even Reds fans were fraught with trepidation. As it was, Mamadou Sakho, Dejan Lovren and the rest stood firm amid the cauldron of noise that is the Westfalenstadion to give Liverpool genuine hope of progression to a Europa League semi-final. Reds earn Dortmund draw Liverpool drew 1-1 with Borussia Dortmund in their Europa League quarter-final first leg. In truth, the concern for what lay in wait was not without justification. Speedy striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has 36 goals to his name so far this season with Marco Reus and Henrik Mhkitaryan bringing the poise, purpose and invention in support. Between them the trio have 43 goals in the Bundesliga alone and more than 60 in all competitions. Ostensibly, this was a mismatch. Jurgen Klopp had an emotion-filled night at old club Borussia Dortmund But there was Sakho, popping up with an incredible block from Mhkitaryan as the Dortmund player appeared ready to pounce. There was Lovren sweeping across to cover and intercept Aubameyangs goal-bound shot from the right channel. There was goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, advancing to flick the ball from Reuss path as he prepared to tap home. And this was just in the first half.Thanks to Divock Origis opener, Liverpool led at half-time and the fans whod readied themselves to watch every Dortmund attack from the gaps between their fingers, fearing that the shared rendition of Youll Never Walk Alone and mutual love-in for Jurgen Klopp would be as good as it got, began to believe. The home side equalised soon after, but Liverpools defence were just warming to the task. Lovrens clearances Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren made eight clearances, three more than anyone else on the pitch. It was never entirely convincing. In the moments before Mats Hummels levelled things up, Sakho inexplicably measured a pass into his opponents path. Twice Lovreen was forced to cover for his centre-back partner and just when it appeared that he was the more assured of the two men, the Croatian hurriedly smashed a clearance against Nathaniel Clyne.dddddddddddd But that, it seems, is how they roll.Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher referred to the pair as excellent and whether by luck or by judgement - Liverpool fans are long past caring - they got the job done. The moment that summed it up best perhaps came when Reus attempted to dink the ball beyond Sakho only for the defender to throw his head in the way. It lacked the grace of Hummels but, on the night, it was more effective. Sakhos blocks Mamadou Sakho was the only player on the pitch to make three blocks. And then came the confirmation of their personal triumph. Anyone whod envisioned Aubameyang being withdrawn with a quarter of an hour to go, might have anticipated its purpose being to reward the forward with a warm applause from the crowd. Perhaps it would be a rest so he could ready himself to receive the match-ball. Instead it was tactical. Hed been seen off by Sakho and Lovren.For all his improvement this season, this was another step up for Lovren and he delivered. Sakho had struggled against Tottenham as recently as Saturday but also justified his managers support. This was a reminder that these are defenders capable of repelling the best. Its reliability not capability that they are seeking to add to their armoury. Sakho received some attention from Klopp at the final whistle after a fine effort According to Opta, no team in the country has made more errors leading to shots than Liverpool this season. Lovren himself topped that particular chart for individual mistakes last season. But this was a night to reward his own advances and the mental resilience that both men have shown. Together with Mignolet, the three players have helped to give Liverpool a fighting chance at Anfield.Nobody is doubting that Klopp has work to do in reshaping this Liverpool side in the summer and the defence is certain to be on his list of priorities. But thats for another day. Before all that, theres a trophy to contest, moments to enjoy and a proud European history on which to build. Four more performances like this one and we really will have an against-the-odds redemption tale to enjoy. Also See: Liverpool draw in Dortmund As it happened ' ' '