Wolves 92, Lakers 117
Al Jefferson had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Timberwolves,
who lost their fifth straight game after winning five of seven in a
stretch that suggested they were slowly turning around their season of
post-Kevin Garnett development.
"They just outworked us and played harder than us,'' said Randy
Foye, who had a season-high 18 points. "A team like us, we can't take
off any nights on defense.''
Wolves record: 10-41
Timberwolves Today postgame podcast
Canis Hoopus game recap
Weary and now 1-11 in the second half of back-to-back games, the Wolves
played as poorly as early in the season. Indiscriminate with the
basketball, they committed 11 of their 16 turnovers by halftime and
surrendered 99 points by third quarter's end.
Led by 29 points from Kobe Bryant (who re-aggravated a finger injury)
and a triple-double from Lamar Odom, L.A. dispatched a Wolves team that
didn't have the guns to fire back on this evening. Al Jefferson managed
19 points and nine rebounds in 31 minutes, while Randy Foye had a
season-high 18 points in a season-high 29 minutes off the bench.
The Wolves' defense hasn't been nearly as effective
as it was a month ago. Consider this week: Sunday's 105-82 blowout loss
at home to Toronto, Tuesday's 92-88 loss at New Jersey during which the
Wolves shot just 36 percent, and then Wednesday's embarrassing effort.
Wolves guard Rashad McCants scored six points
against the Lakers after missing Tuesday's loss at New Jersey because
of a sprained right ankle.
The crowd in the Target Center seems to be cheering more for the Lakers than they are for the Timberwolves, chanting "MVP" for Bryant when he shoots free throws. I've also overheard fans yelling at Kobe to "Take it to him" when Corey Brewer is guarding him.
4 Consecutive days off for the Wolves at the All-Star break.
