LOS ANGELES (NBA.com exclusive)  --  Must-wins are usually reserved for the springtime. The Los Angeles Clippers confronted theirs a little early this year.

Facing an 0-5 start for the second consecutive season, the Clippers played just well enough down the stretch Monday night to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 93-90, at Staples Center.

Rasual Butler, making his first start of the season for Los Angeles, converted four free throws in the final 19.4 seconds to hold off the Timberwolves, who were playing their second road game in as many nights.

"I like pressure, whether it's taking the last shot or knocking down free throws," said Butler. "I'm known as a pretty good shooter, so I needed to just go up there and concentrate the best I could and get my technique and rhythm right and try and knock them down."

Butler's free throws prevented the Clippers (1-4) from absorbing another second-half collapse. They led by as many as 13 points early in the third quarter, but then missed nine consecutive field-goal attempts, allowing the Timberwolves (1-3) to pull within a point heading into the fourth. The Clippers made just five of 20 field-goal attempts in the third quarter.

The lead changed hands eight times in the fourth quarter before the Clippers went ahead for good on a driving layup by Eric Gordon with 1:32 remaining.

Clippers center Chris Kaman, who scored a career-high 27 points Saturday night in a loss to Dallas, scored a team-high 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. It was the fourth consecutive game Kaman has topped 20 points.

"I try to consistently shoot good shots," he said. "I shoot good on-balance shots that the coach can't complain about if I miss."

Kaman came into the game 21st in the league in scoring. He said he's ready to become one of the elite scoring centers in the league, but doesn't expect to abandon his patient style on the offensive end.

"I just need to figure out how to pass the ball out of the double team," he said.

Gordon scored 12 of his 17 points in the opening quarter for the Clippers, backcourt mate Baron Davis had 13 points and eight assists and Butler finished with 12 points, but made just three of 15 field-goal attempts.

"He had a lot of good shots tonight that he normally makes,"

Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said of Butler: "I would be happy to get those looks every night."

Not only was Minnesota playing the second of back-to-back road games, but the Timberwolves are trying to get by without second-year center Kevin Love, who broke his hand in the preseason. Al Jefferson attempted to pick up the slack, scoring 24 points, including a jump hook that pulled the Timberwolves within one point with 26 seconds remaining.

Corey Brewer had 14 points and rookie point guard Jonny Flynn and forward Oleksiy Pecherov scored 13 each. Before the game, the Timberwolves announced they weren't picking up the option on Pecherov next season.

Minnesota coach Kurt Rambis, who was hired last summer after serving as an assistant for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2002-09, said the Timberwolves need to do a better job of playing as an offensive unit.

"We need to execute our offense and help each other get open," he said. "That means setting picks and executing properly."

Minnesota did make the most of its 20 forced turnovers, turning them into 30 points.

"Every time we turned it over, they scored," Dunleavy said.

The Clippers will have some extra days to work out the kinks. After playing five games in the first seven days of the season, they don't play until Friday at Golden State. They may also have a chance to improve on their record, as six of their next seven opponents did not qualify for the playoffs last season.