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Sunday, Apr. 16 5:30pm ET
Bryant perfect on 11 free throws, scores 25 | |||||
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kobe Bryant was the wrong player for the Minnesota Timberwolves to foul. Bryant made 11 free throws without a miss Sunday, including four in the final 43.6 seconds, as the Los Angeles Lakers nipped the Timberwolves 101-95. Bryant, who had 25 points and 10 assists, snapped a 95-all tie by making a pair of foul shots after rookie Wally Szczerbiak was called for a blocking foul with seven seconds remaining. Minnesota then got the ball to Terrell Brandon in the right corner, but Bryant broke through a screen and defended the shot so well that Brandon, after leaving his feet, changed his mind in mid-air and tried to pass it. Glen Rice intercepted the ball and made two free throws with 4.2 seconds left, then made two more from the line after stealing the ensuing inbounds pass. Bryant had given the Lakers a 95-93 lead with two free throws. Joe Smith's jumper with 27.1 seconds left tied it at 95. In all, the Lakers were 27-of-31 from the foul line while the Timberwolves were 16-of-21. Shaquille O'Neal had 33 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists in 46 minutes to lead the Lakers, showing that the ankle he tweaked earlier this month is just fine. Ron Harper added 15 points before suffering a bruised tailbone in the final second of the third quarter. He didn't play after that. Brandon led the Timberwolves with 18 points and nine assists. Szczerbiak had 16 points and seven rebounds, and Kevin Garnett added 15 points and 15 rebounds. The win was the third straight and 33rd in the last 35 games for the Lakers (67-13), who can equal the best record in franchise history and second-best in NBA history by winning season-ending games at Dallas and San Antonio. Seeking their first championship in 12 years, the Lakers clinched the NBA's best record and homecourt advantage throughout the postseason April 5. The playoffs begin next weekend. The Timberwolves (49-31), who have already set a franchise record for wins in a season, lost for just the eighth time in 29 games. They trail the Spurs by two games for the fifth seed in the West with two games remaining. The Timberwolves went on a 16-4 run early in the third quarter, giving them a 61-57 lead. The Lakers led 74-73 entering the final period. Neither team led by more than eight points in the game. The Lakers were on top 49-43 at halftime thanks to a 9-4 spurt to finish the second quarter. Game notesThe Lakers finished their home schedule with a 36-5 record -- best in the NBA. The Indiana Pacers, 35-5 with one home game left, could equal that mark. ... The Timberwolves (23-17) and Lakers (31-8) are two of the five NBA teams with winning road records. All five play in the Western Conference. ... The Lakers swept the Timberwolves this season. They have won the last 12 games between the teams in Los Angeles and 12 of the last 13 overall. ... In a halftime ceremony, the Lakers and the History Channel jointly announced the three greatest moments in franchise history according to fan voting -- The drafting of Magic Johnson in 1979; the 33 straight wins by the 1971-72 team, and the 1988 championship that made the Lakers the first team in 19 years to win back-to-back titles. | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Minnesota Clubhouse LA Lakers Clubhouse RECAPS Miami 95 Orlando 84
LA Lakers 101
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