National Basketball Association
L.A. Lakers 106, Minnesota 98
When: 10:30 PM ET, Friday, March 18, 2011
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Officials:
#35 Kane Fitzgerald, #36 David Jones, #55 Bill Kennedy
Attendance:
18997
By SportsDirect Inc.
Pau Gasol scored 25 points as the host Los Angeles Lakers struggled to put away Minnesota 106-98 on Friday for their 15th straight victory over the Timberwolves.
Kobe Bryant, who is nursing a sprained ankle, scored all of his 18 points in the final 25 minutes. He hit his last two shots of the second quarter - both 3-pointers - after missing his first six shots. He finished 6 for 17 from the field in 28 minutes.
Gasol started an 8-0 run with 3:34 to go which put the Lakers ahead for good. He finished 12 of 17 from the field and is averaging 21.5 points in his last four games.
The Lakers (49-20) improved to 11-1 since the All-Star break.
Wesley Johnson scored a career-high 29 points, and Kevin Love had 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Timberwolves (17-53), who fell to 5-30 on the road and 6-45 when their opponent reaches 100 points.
The Lakers finished the third quarter with a 7-0 run - the last five points by Bryant - to take a 78-74 lead.
The Lakers' Andrew Bynum (14 rebounds) was ejected with 6:16 to go after a flagrant foul on Michael Beasley, who made both free throws to put the Timberwolves back in front 89-88. Beasley bruised his hip after landing hard on the floor and did not return.
Love had 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Johnson had 17 points on 6-for-8 shooting in the first half as the Timberwolves took a 51-49 lead.
Top Game Performances
| Minnesota |
|
L.A. Lakers |
|
Wesley Johnson 29 |
Scoring |
Pau Gasol 25 |
|
Luke Ridnour 8 |
Assists |
Kobe Bryant 5 |
|
Kevin Love 13 |
Rebounds |
Andrew Bynum 14 |
|
Michael Beasley 4 |
Free Throws Made |
Kobe Bryant 4 |
|
Wesley Johnson 3 |
Steals |
Metta World Peace 3 |
|
Wesley Johnson 1 |
Blocks |
Pau Gasol 4 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
| Minnesota
|
98 |
44.3 |
7-21 |
13-18 |
24 |
45 |
3 |
12 |
17 |
| L.A. Lakers
|
106 |
47.6 |
8-19 |
18-23 |
24 |
44 |
6 |
8 |
16 |
Upcoming Games
-
L.A. Lakers will play their next game at home against Portland. The Lakers have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.
-
Minnesota will play their next game at home against Sacramento. The Timberwolves have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.
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