National Basketball Association
L.A. Lakers 104, Minnesota 85
When: 10:30 PM ET, Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Officials:
#55 Bill Kennedy, #71 Rodney Mott, #64 SirAllen Connor
Attendance:
18997
By SportsDirect Inc.
LAKERS 104, TIMBERWOLVES 85: Kobe Bryant shook off a concussion and broken nose and had 31 points, eight assists and seven rebounds to lead Los Angeles to a rout of visiting Minnesota, which played without Kevin Love.
Bryant, who was banged up on a hard foul by Dwyane Wade in Sunday's All-Star Game, was cleared to play by a neurologist about an hour before tipoff.
Bryant, wearing a clear mask to protect his broken nose, didn't seem bothered early, scoring 10 first-quarter points and helping the Lakers go up by as much as 15. He scored 14 in the third quarter when the Lakers outscored the Timberwolves 33-15 and turned the game into a runaway win.
Minnesota (18-18) was just 5 of 20 from the field in the third quarter and has lost 17 in a row to the Lakers.
Andrew Bynum had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Pau Gasol scored 11 of his 15 in the third and also had five rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
Minnesota was without their leading scorer Love, who had flu-like symptoms. Love also hurt his ribs when he was elbowed by DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. Derrick Williams, who scored a career-high 27 points Tuesday, started for Love and had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Without Love, and with Ricky Rubio (1 of 8 for three points) and Luke Ridnour (3 of 11, eight points) struggling to score, the Timberwolves again looked to their bench.
Martell Webster and Michael Beasley each scored 14. Nikola Pekovic had 10 points and seven rebounds. Anthony Randolph had 12 points and nine rebounds.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Ridnour appeared to jam his hand at the end of the first half and did not start the second, entering about eight minutes into the third quarter. ... Lakers coach Mike Brown on Bryant: "Kobe is Kobe. I don't think he ever wants to sit out. If he has two broken legs (he would say) 'Tape this one, and staple this one, and let's go.' " ... This was Love's first missed game because of injury this season. He served a two-game suspension Feb. 7-8 after stepping on fallen Houston forward Luis Scola. ... The Timberwolves are winless all-time on Leap Day at 0-5.
Top Game Performances
| Minnesota |
|
L.A. Lakers |
|
Michael Beasley 14 |
Scoring |
Kobe Bryant 31 |
|
Ricky Rubio 9 |
Assists |
Kobe Bryant 8 |
|
Anthony Randolph 9 |
Rebounds |
Andrew Bynum 13 |
|
Martell Webster 3 |
Free Throws Made |
Kobe Bryant 9 |
|
Luke Ridnour 3 |
Steals |
Steve Blake 2 |
|
Wayne Ellington 1 |
Blocks |
Andrew Bynum 3 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
| Minnesota
|
85 |
39.3 |
5-19 |
10-18 |
22 |
44 |
1 |
7 |
14 |
| L.A. Lakers
|
104 |
48.8 |
5-21 |
17-22 |
30 |
48 |
8 |
7 |
13 |
Upcoming Games
-
L.A. Lakers will play their next game at home against Sacramento. The Lakers have a W/L % of .550 after a win and .667 after a loss.
-
Minnesota will play their next game on the road against Phoenix. The Timberwolves have a W/L % of .474 after a win and .529 after a loss.
For more information, contact us