LOS ANGELES -- Chauncey Billups had no intention of calling it quits in February when his season ended because of a torn left Achilles tendon. He didn't need to come back, but didn't want his stellar NBA career to end that way.

Nine excruciating months later, the five-time All-Star made it back on the court with the Los Angeles Clippers and gave them the spark they needed to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 101-95 on Wednesday night.

"I still have a burning desire to win," said Billups, the 2004 NBA Finals MVP with Detroit. "The night I went down, before I even left the locker room, everybody was saying I was retiring. But those were people who didn't know me and my fabric and where I'm from.

"I could understand why they would say that," he added. "I mean, I'm 35, I've pretty much done it all, made a good living for myself and my family, and did everything I wanted to do. So why would I come back? But that's just not how I'm cut, man. I wasn't going to go out like that -- not to prove everybody wrong, but for my own self."

Billups, beginning his 16th season, had 7 points and 3 assists in 19 minutes as the Clippers ended a four-game losing streak. The Clippers outscored Minnesota 49-44 while he was on the floor.

"I knew this day was going to come, but I didn't know it was going to happen before the year ended," said backcourt mate Chris Paul, who had 23 points and 11 assists. "I talked to him that night after he got injured, and a lot of people in this league thought it was over for him. But not him. We're too much alike. He wasn't going out like that, so it was great to see him back out there. I'm just glad he isn't in a suit anymore."

Billups, who was replaced in the starting lineup at shooting guard by Willie Green for the Clippers' first 14 games, got their first basket on a 3-pointer from the top of the key 42 seconds after the opening tip. It was his only basket of the game in five attempts. All of his points came during his first stint on the court, which ended with 6:06 left in the opening quarter.

"I was just so excited to be back after such a long time," Billups said. "I've only played full court like three times since the injury, so knowing that, I'm trying to be patient with myself. It's going to take a little while. I got back pretty far ahead of schedule. To be honest, I was going to be back before this, but there were a couple of small setbacks, which was expected, because I had to recalibrate my body for playing an intense level of basketball."

He averaged 15.0 points and 4.0 assists in 20 games last season after the Clippers claimed him when he was waived by the New York Knicks through the amnesty clause.

"There's nothing like a real live game," he added. "I'm sure I'll be sore in the morning, and I'm pretty sure it'll be like that for the first week or two. It's kind of like the way guys are the first few days of training camp."

Blake Griffin, who had career lows in points (four) and field goals made (one) during Monday night's 105-98 home loss to New Orleans, had 18 points and six rebounds. Caron Butler, who scored 33 points in that game and set a franchise record with a career-high nine 3-point baskets, missed his first five shots and finished 1-for-8 with two points in 24 minutes.