National Basketball Association
L.A. Lakers 106, Minnesota 98
When: 10:30 PM ET, Friday, April 10, 2015
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Officials:
#29 Mark Lindsay, #11 Lauren Holtkamp, #30 John Goble
Attendance:
17880
By The Sports Xchange
LOS ANGELES -- In a matchup of two of the NBA's worst clubs, the Los Angeles Lakers had the upper hand.
Forward Ryan Kelly scored 21 points and guard Jabari Brown added 20, leading the Lakers to a 106-98 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night at Staples Center. For Kelly, it was only his second outing of 20 points or more this season. He hit seven of 12 shots from the floor, including five of six from behind the 3-point arc.
Center Tarik Black scored a career-high 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Point guard Jordan Clarkson also scored 18 and dished out nine assists for Los Angeles (21-58), which ended a five-game losing streak.
Forward Andrew Wiggins scored 29 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and handed out six assists to pace the Timberwolves (16-63), who dropped their ninth in a row. Guard Zach LaVine, who played college ball at nearby UCLA, scored 18 points.
The Lakers, who led by as much as 14 points in the first half, took a 52-47 lead at the break. They outshot Minnesota 55.3 percent to 43.2 percent from the floor and made four of 10 from 3-point range to only one of five for the Timberwolves in the first half.
Los Angeles opened the third on a 20-7 run after a dunk by Clarkson for a 72-54 cushion four minutes into the quarter with 6:30 remaining. However, Minnesota rallied, slicing the deficit to 80-71 heading into the final period.
The Lakers, though, got the lead back to double digits again in the fourth quarter. An 8-2 surge kicked off the fourth for an 88-75 advantage after Clarkson connected with Brown on a behind-the-back pass and a layup with 9:46 left. Minnesota cut the gap to eight on two foul shots by Wiggins, but buckets by forward Wesley Johnson and Black increased the margin to 99-87 with 3:34 remaining.
A putback dunk by forward Adreian Payne pulled Minnesota within 99-93 with 1:34 left, but Black countered with a slam to put the lead back to eight 12 seconds later. The Timberwolves got no closer than six from that point on.
NOTES: Lakers coach Byron Scott believes the NBA should consider revamping its lottery system. Scott, though, didn't offer any alternatives. ... Lakers G Jeremy Lin missed his second straight game with a sore left knee. ... Timberwolves F Kevin Garnett sat out with an unknown illness. ... Six rookies started the contest. F Andrew Wiggins, F Adreian Payne and G Zach LaVine were the starters for Minnesota, while C Tarik Black, G Jabari Brown and G Jordan Clarkson got the nod for Los Angeles. ... The Timberwolves visit the Golden State Warriors on Saturday before closing their season at home against the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. ... The Lakers host the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday before capping the season at Sacramento on Monday and then at home against the Kings on Wednesday.
Top Game Performances
| Minnesota |
|
L.A. Lakers |
|
Andrew Wiggins 29 |
Scoring |
Ryan Kelly 21 |
|
Andrew Wiggins 6 |
Assists |
Jordan Clarkson 9 |
|
Andrew Wiggins 10 |
Rebounds |
Tarik Black 10 |
|
Andrew Wiggins 15 |
Free Throws Made |
Jabari Brown 8 |
|
Lorenzo Brown 3 |
Steals |
Jordan Clarkson 4 |
|
Justin Hamilton 3 |
Blocks |
Ed Davis 1 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
| Minnesota
|
98 |
43.2 |
3-15 |
31-34 |
17 |
39 |
3 |
7 |
12 |
| L.A. Lakers
|
106 |
49.4 |
9-23 |
15-24 |
35 |
46 |
2 |
6 |
14 |
Upcoming Games
-
L.A. Lakers will play their next game at home against Dallas. The Lakers have a W/L % of .300 after a win and .254 after a loss.
-
Minnesota will play their next game on the road against Golden State. The Timberwolves have a W/L % of .118 after a win and .226 after a loss.
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