Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Kobe Bryant scored 33 points in three
quarters and the Los Angeles Lakers continued the NBA's longest active winning
streak over on opponent with a 116-94 rout of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Lakers have won 21 straight against Minnesota and 13 in a row at Staples
Center. They used an efficient night from Bryant, five other double-digit
scorers and 16 3-pointers to keep their dominance going.
Antawn Jamison had 17 points and eight rebounds, while fellow reserves Jodie
Meeks and Steve Blake chipped in 16 and 13 points, respectively, in the win.
J.J. Barea paced Minnesota with 20 points, but it wasn't enough to snap the
club's three-game slide. Luke Ridnour added 19 points, and Ricky Rubio totaled
13 points, 13 assists and eight boards in the setback.
Bryant shot 13-of-22 from the field and showed he was on top of his game in
the opening minute when he drove the baseline and threw down a vintage one-
handed slam over Nikola Pekovic.
Steve Nash also got out to a fast start, scoring seven points on a 9-2 run
that gave the Lakers a 16-6 lead less than five minutes in.
Los Angeles held a 28-22 after the first quarter and used Bryant's second
straight 11-point frame to take a 57-47 cushion into halftime.
Bryant scored 11 again in the third, his last two coming on a fadeaway just
before the buzzer to give the hosts a 91-75 advantage.
The outcome was never in doubt over the final 12 minutes.
Game Notes
Minnesota last beat the Lakers on March 6, 2007 ... Pekovic had eight points
in the opening quarter, but did not play the rest of the game due to an
abdominal strain ... Lakers center Dwight Howard totaled 11 points and a game-
high 13 rebounds, while Nash finished with 10 points and seven assists.
The Sports Network