Lakers Gameday | 01/30/09 | Lakers 132, Timberwolves 119
 Los Angeles Lakers
Western Conference Standing : 1 Streak: Won 1 |
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 Minesota Timberwolves
Western Conference Standing : 10 Streak: Lost 2 |
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Bynum, Lakers too big for T-wolves in 132-119 win
MINNEAPOLIS(AP) Andrew Bynum bulled his way inside to 27 points and 15 rebounds, a perfect complement to Kobe Bryant, who scored 30 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers started a six-game road trip with a 132-119 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. Pau Gasol scored 21 points for the Lakers, who reached their season high in scoring and beat Minnesota for the sixth consecutive time. Minnesota's recent resurgence has been fueled by rebounding and superior inside play, but L.A. was too deep and too tall. Al Jefferson had 34 points and 13 rebounds and Randy Foye scored 27 points for the Wolves, who rallied from a 20-point hole with an 18-7 run in the fourth quarter but couldn't get any closer. This was the most points they've allowed in regulation this season. Bynum, the reigning Western Conference player of the week, notched his fifth straight double-double. He helped the Lakers make up for a frustrating double-overtime loss at home to Charlotte on Tuesday, prompting coach Phil Jackson to proclaim before the game his players had flushed that experience "down the toilet'' and forgotten about it. Bryant sparked the Lakers' surge in the third quarter, swishing a 3-pointer and leaving his wrist cocked in Foye's face for emphasis while the lead stretched to 91-73. Minnesota just settled for too many jumpers and couldn't overcome the height disadvantage underneath. Ryan Gomes and Kevin Love each added 14 points for the Wolves, who blew a late lead and lost to Detroit on Wednesday after starting 2009 with a 10-2 record. This brutal three-game stretch concludes Sunday afternoon at defending champion Boston. Bryant had 10 points in the game's first four minutes, but Gomes got in his way after that and minimized his impact until the decisive last half of the third quarter. The Lakers actually padded their lead while Bryant rested early in the second quarter. Bynum, with help from his fellow 7-footer Gasol, had his way underneath. Bynum's sheer strength was painfully obvious to the Wolves every time he posted up and tried to back down Jefferson. Thanks to Gomes and Jefferson's usual inside touch, though, the Wolves stayed with them and came two points short of their season high for the first half - taking a 64-60 deficit into the locker room. In the final minute, while Bynum flashed his long arms for the ball in the lane, Gomes pestered Bryant for a solid 20 seconds and forced an off-target shot by the perennial All-Star at the end of the possession. But the second half was another story for Minnesota. Notes: The Lakers cleared F Trevor Ariza to play - he had eight points in 23 minutes - after a CT scan and MRI test came showed no problems. He was knocked out of Tuesday's game with a concussion, but Jackson said Ariza was first hit in the head on Sunday against San Antonio. ... Minnesota G Sebastian Teflair's availability was in question again after getting kneed in the thigh for a second straight game on Wednesday, but he had 10 points in 32 minutes. ... The All-Star break won't be a break for the Lakers' coaching staff, which will run the Western Conference team. Jackson didn't hide his disinterest in a busy All-Star weekend in Phoenix, but he showed a sense of humor. Asked if he'll play Bryant and his former-teammate-turned-foe Shaquille O'Neal together in the exhibition. "Of course,'' Jackson said, smiling. "I wouldn't miss that opportunity for the world.'' ... The crowd was announced at 19,111, the largest of the season. The Wolves entered the night ranked 26th in the league in home attendance, with an average crowd of 13,754 per game.
Copyright 2008 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited
LAKERS-TIMBERWOLVES PREVIEWby Mike Trudell, Lakers.com If you’re looking for a comprehensive picture of the Minnesota Timberwolves, holders of the league’s best record in January (10-2), click here to listen to Wolves TV analyst Jim Petersen. The former NBA player and long-time broadcaster talks about the major influence of Kevin McHale, the development of Al Jefferson and the progress of Kevin Love.
GAME NOTES
NOTES & CONNECTIONS The Lakers lead this season’s series with Minnesota 1-0 after sweeping last season’s series with the Timberwolves 3-0. This will be the 75th meeting between the two franchises with Los Angeles holding a 53-21 advantage. The Lakers are 8-2 in their last 10 meetings with the Timberwolves, have won 8-of-their-last-9 contests and have won five straight overall. At STAPLE Center, the Lakers are 14-4 all-time against the Timberwolves and are 7-3 in their last 10. At Target Center, the Lakers are 5-5 in their last 10 road games against the Timberwolves. Under head coach Phil Jackson, the Lakers are 20-12 against Minnesota. Former Laker Mark Madsen, who currently plays for Minnesota, averaged 2.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 11.3 minutes in 183 games over three seasons with the Lakers. The Lakers and Timberwolves have met once in the postseason during the first round of the 2003 Playoffs. Los Angeles defeated the Wolves 4-2 despite Minnesota holding home-court advantage. No Timberwolves remain from their 2002-03 roster while Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher are the only current Lakers who played in that series. In 43 career games including 35 starts, Bryant is averaging 23.2 points versus Minnesota and is set to surpass the 1,000-point mark against the Timberwolves in his next game (996 points). In 2007, Bryant scored 50 points on March 18, 2007 vs. Minnesota, becoming the first Laker since Elgin Baylor in December of 1962 to post consecutive 50-point games as well as the first player since Wilt Chamberlain in 1963 to follow a 60-plus point scoring night with 50-plus points. Additionally, Bryant’s 50-point effort matched Cedric Ceballos’ series record 50-point game posted on December 20, 1994.
LAKERS SCOUTING REPORT
Our victory over the T’Wolves on December 14th came shortly after Kevin McHale took over as coach. They are a much better team now thanks to Coach McHale’s insistence that the players try to have fun. His approach is that they must return to the passion and enjoyment of the game and this has helped them become one of the hottest teams in the league. They are 7-3 over their last ten games. We will definitely have our hands full tonight as the T’wolves fans try to create some heat in the Target Center. (for the record there is about a 75 degree difference in weather between Minneapolis and Los Angeles today)
LAKERS UPDATES
BRYANT RECLAIMS NO. 1 SPOT ON LIST OF NBA’S MOST POPULAR JERSEYS, LAKERS TOP MOST POPULAR TEAM MERCHANDISE LIST ANDREW BYNUM 3rd LAKER TO WIN WC PLAYER OF THE WEEK, 8th EVER LAKER TO EARN PLAYER OF THE WEEK SINCE AWARD’S INCEPTION THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD HALFWAY MARK |
