Timberwolves 96, Lakers 80

Wednesday December 18, 2002

By ANDRES YBARRA
Associated Press Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Kendall Gill offered a theory on why the Los Angeles Lakers are struggling so much this season.

``Maybe they're just bored with winning and they're trying to lose as many games as they can to give themselves a challenge,'' the Minnesota guard said.

Gill was joking but the Lakers weren't laughing.

Kevin Garnett scored 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Timberwolves beat the sluggish Lakers 96-80 on Tuesday night.

The three-time defending champions have lost three of their last four games and, with their 10-16 record, are just a game ahead of last-place Golden State in the Pacific Division.

``Things just aren't going our way,'' Robert Horry said. ``We're going out there full speed and everybody is just passing us.''

Reserve Marc Jackson scored 13 points and Troy Hudson had 10 assists for the Timberwolves, who have won three straight against the Lakers at Target Center.

Shaquille O'Neal had 17 points and nine rebounds, and Kobe Bryant 15 points for the Lakers. Both sat on the bench for the final six minutes.

Bryant, guarded mostly by Gill, was held to four points in the first half.

``Kobe looked lackluster tonight,'' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. ``He didn't have that fire in the first half. He was better in the second half, but he energized us for a couple of minutes and got us in trouble the rest of the quarter.''

The Wolves, who led by as many as 22 points, never trailed, and their lead wasn't seriously threatened after the first quarter.

Gill had 11 points, while Rasho Nesterovic, Anthony Peeler and Rod Strickland each scored 10 for the Wolves.

While Bryant struggled, the Wolves clamped down on O'Neal, who seldom had good position inside. The Wolves combined Nesterovic and Jackson against him for most of the game.

``They can throw it to the rafters, and (O'Neal) will go and get it,'' Jackson said. ``You can't front him. You have to stay behind him and hope you get help.''

Despite their record, Bryant said there's no reason to panic.

``I don't think we should play with desperation,'' he said. ``When you play with desperation, you don't play your best basketball.

``I'm an incredibly optimistic person. We can come out the next game and play better. That's my whole mentality.''

The crowd came to its feet when Bryant blew a dunk. After shaking off Peeler, Bryant faked a pass to O'Neal and streaked inside for the jam. But the ball hit hard off the back of the rim and out to halfcourt, where Hudson picked it up and drove for a layup.

``Nothing's working in their favor,'' Hudson said. ``I think every team goes through it, they're just going through it early.''< ^Notes:@ The Lakers play at New Jersey, Philadelphia and Toronto before they return home to play Sacramento on Christmas night. ... Before the game, Wolves coach Flip Saunders said there's no target date for swingman Wally Szczerbiak's return from the injured list. Szczerbiak, who could be out past New Year's, is out with a sprained toe. ... The Lakers have won only two of 13 road games. ... O'Neal was called for a flagrant foul after knocking down a driving Strickland in the third.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)