wolves/nba

 
            === Lakers hold on, win 20th straight over T'Wolves ===
 
 Minneapolis,  MN (Sports  Network)  - Pau  Gasol was  inserted  back into  the
 starting lineup and recorded 22 points and 12 rebounds to help the Los Angeles
 Lakers continue their dominance over the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 111-100
 victory at Target Center.
 
 Even  with All-Star center Dwight Howard back in Los Angeles to have treatment
 done  on his ailing  right shoulder, the Lakers raced out to an early lead and
 held  on to snap an eight-game road skid and earn their 20th straight win over
 the Timberwolves.
 
 Kobe  Bryant  nearly posted  a triple-double  with 17  points, 12 rebounds and
 eight  assists, while  Antawn Jamison  and  Steve Nash  chipped in  18 and  17
 points, respectively, for the victors.
 
 The Lakers dropped the opener of their seven-game road trip on Wednesday after
 squandering  a late double-digit lead to the Suns. They saw a 29-point cushion
 dip  to four  midway through the fourth quarter Friday before pulling away for
 their fourth win in five games.
 
 "We  knew they  were going to make  a run," Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni said of
 his  team nearly squandering another double-digit lead. "We helped them out by
 not attacking the zone very well, but I'm happy. We just got a good win."
 
 Alexey Shved had 18 points to pace the Timberwolves, losers of six straight.
 
 The  Lakers led  by as many as 29  in the first half, but made just 16 percent
 (3-of-19)  from the  floor in the third quarter to allow the Timberwolves back
 in  it. Minnesota  cut its 68-53 halftime deficit to nine, 85-76, entering the
 fourth.
 
 A Shved 3-pointer had Minnesota as close as four, 94-90, but Gasol answered at
 the  other  end with a three-point  play off a  nice pass from Bryant. After a
 Chris  Johnson  bucket made it a  five-point game, Gasol and Jamison scored on
 consecutive  possessions  around a J.J.  Barea miss,  and the visitors held on
 over the final four minutes.
 
 Gasol,  in the starting lineup for the first time since Jan. 20, had 13 points
 in  a  lopsided first  quarter that  featured the Lakers  shooting a torrid 72
 percent  (21-of-29)  from the field.  Earl Clark added  11 in the frame, which
 ended with the visitors holding a 37-24 advantage.
 
 "They just knocked down a lot of shots," Timberwolves forward Derrick Williams
 said of the Lakers. "It's pick your poison with them."
 
 The  margin reached  its high point at 61-32 midway through the second quarter
 when  Nash finished off  a 20-1 flurry with one of LA's five 3-pointers during
 the four-minute stretch.
 
                                   Game Notes
 
 The  Lakers earned their first road win since win Dec. 22 against the Warriors
 ... Clark chipped in 13 points and 10 rebounds for LA, which held a commanding
 57-40  edge on  the glass  ...  Williams  totaled 15  points and nine rebounds
 for Minnesota, which has not beaten the Lakers since March 6, 2007.
 
 
 
 
 
 02/02 01:28:53 ET