December 15th, 2008 
Stephen Rhodes 
Posted in 
The Los Angeles Lakers are the best team in the Western Conference, bar none; but in Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, they sure didn’t exactly play like one as they were outrebounded 53-46 and shot only 44.7% from the floor. Despite those negatives, Kobe Bryant helped the Lakers pull away from the T-Wolves late in the game as Los Angeles defeated Minnesota 98-86 at Staples Center.
The Lakers led early on by as many as seven points before settling for a slim 20-18 lead after the opening quarter; both teams shot 2-of-11 to begin the second period as each team scored only 5 points apiece in the first 6 minutes, leaving the Lakers ahead 25-23. Minnesota would score the next 5 points before Los Angeles went on a 17-9 run to finish the first half for a 42-37 lead; the Timberwolves led 57-54 with 6 /12 minutes remaining in the third quarter. But a 3-pointer by Bryant, a basket by Lamar Odom and 5 straight points by Luke Walton gave the Lakers a 7-point lead and would hold on for ther balance of the contest.
Los Angeles’ high scorer was Bryant with 26 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals while Pau Gasol added 18 with 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocked shots. Minnesota was led by Al Jefferson with 20 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and 3 blocked shots while Craig Smith added 18 with 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Los Angeles (20-3) plays again on Tuesday when they host the New York Knicks while Minnesota (4-19) travels to Sacramento to take on the Kings on Monday night.
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