LOS ANGELES, Dec. 1 (Ticker) -- Once again, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant sparked the Los Angeles Lakers to victory, then took a deserved rest.

O'Neal had 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists and Bryant added 18 and five assists as the Lakers dismantled the Minnesota Timberwolves, 102-76.

Neither Bryant nor O'Neal played in the fourth quarter after helping decide matters in the third period. Los Angeles trailed, 53-51, with 9:01 remaining before O'Neal started a 10-0 run with a five-foot hook shot. Bryant hit a pair of free throws to give the Lakers the lead for good.

NBA.comTV highlights from Wolves-Lakers: 56k | 300k Kobe Bryant goes hard to the basket against the Timberwolves. Noah Graham Getty Images/NBAE

Lindsey Hunter added two 3-pointers during the run and scored 11 of his 13 points during the third quarter. The Lakers led 77-62 entering the final period and the rout was on.

The win was the Lakers' eighth in a row since losing to Phoenix on November 16, their only defeat of the season. Including last season's playoffs, the Lakers are 38-2 since a home loss to New York on April 1.

Wally Szczerbiak had 19 points and eight rebounds for Minnesota (10-5), which went 0-3 on its road trip. Kevin Garnett added 11 and 14 but made just 5-of-18 shots and is shooting just under 37 percent (40-of-109) over his last five games.