The Los Angeles Lakers haven't had a lot of experience playing on the road this season, but much of the experience they have had hasn't been too pleasant.

Kobe Bryant and the Lakers look to put a poor start to their current trip behind them Wednesday when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team they've had trouble defeating on the road.

Los Angeles opened a six-game road trip on Tuesday with a 94-89 loss to the Chicago Bulls. Kwame Brown scored 18 points and had 12 rebounds while Smush Parker added 16 points, but it wasn't enough to offset Bryant's subpar night and prevent the Lakers' second straight defeat overall and third in the last four games.

Bryant, who had scored 98 total points in the previous two games, scored 19 points on 6-of-19 shooting - including 0-for-5 from 3-point range - before fouling out with less than a minute left.

``Last game, I couldn't miss from the 3-point line, and tonight, I couldn't throw the ball in the ocean,'' he said.

The loss dropped the Lakers (16-9), who have played the fewest road games in the league, to 3-5 away from the Staples Center this season. The contest also began a six-game road trip for Los Angeles, which will face four Eastern Conference opponents before returning home.

The Lakers likely will play the remainder of the trip without power forward Lamar Odom, who missed his fourth consecutive game Tuesday with a sprained ligament in his right knee. He is not expected to return until after the New Year.

Los Angeles is also trying to end its recent road struggles against the Timberwolves (10-11). The Lakers have lost eight of their last 11 trips to the Target Center since the 2000-01 season, with a 13.8-point average margin of defeat in the losses.

Bryant is averaging 20.9 points in 18 career road games against the Timberwolves, who suffered their second straight loss on Saturday, 108-104 to the Milwaukee Bucks. Kevin Garnett scored 26 points and had nine rebounds, but made a bad pass in the final minute that led to a crucial Bucks 3-point play.

``My play was pure horrible tonight,'' said Garnett, who saw his streak of 10 consecutive double-doubles snapped. ``I was pretty passive in the second half, and I can't make a pass like that.''

Mark Blount added 16 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Minnesota shot 52.1 percent from the field - its best performance in nine games - but allowed the Bucks to shoot 50.6 percent, the second-highest mark for a Timberwolves opponent this season.

Minnesota is holding opponents to season averages of 44.1 percent field-goal shooting and 93.2 points per game.

This is the second meeting between the teams in 2005-06. The Lakers won 95-88 on Nov. 7 at Staples Center. Andrew Bynum had 20 points and 14 rebounds to lead Los Angeles, while Garnett scored 26 points for Minnesota.