GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: MINNESOTA (0-3) at LA LAKERS (2-2)

Discussion in 'Minnesota Timberwolves' started by SportsTicker, Nov 9, 2007.

  1. SportsTicker

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    LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The post-Kevin Garnett era for theMinnesota Timberwolves has not gotten off to a good start. KobeBryant and Lamar Odom made sure it didn't get any better.

    Bryant scored 30 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished outseven assists and Odom added 18 points and 10 rebounds as theLos Angeles Lakers posted a 107-93 victory over the Timberwolveson Friday night.


    Al Jefferson had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Minnesota,which has started the season with four consecutive losses afterdealing four-time All-Star forward Garnett in a blockbustertrade during the offseason.


    Bryant shot 9-of-19 from the floor, knocked down three shotsfrom the arc and came away with two steals.


    Odom, who was making his first appearance of the seasonfollowing offseason shoulder surgery, played 41 minutes andbrought an energy to the Lakers that they did not appear to havein their first four contests.


    The Lakers took control with Bryant on the bench in the secondquarter, capping a 12-2 run with a 3-pointer from VladimirRadmanovic to grab a 42-38 edge with 5:44 left in the secondquarter.


    Bryant had 14 points in the first half as Los Angeles took a56-50 lead into the break.


    The Lakers came out strong in the second half and burst out witha 12-2 run, which was highlighted by Lamar Odom's full-courtpass to a wide-open Bryant for an easy layup.


    Sebastian Telfair helped cut the deficit to 90-81 by scoringseven points in the first five minutes of the final session, butthe Lakers did not allow the Timberwolves to get any closerthan seven the rest of the way.


    Three players that came to Minnesota in the Garnett trade ledthe way for the Timberwolves. The 22-year-old Jefferson has nowhad a double-double in each game this season, while Telfairchipped in 15 points and Ryan Gomes finished with 17.

    Both Chris Mihm and Andrew Bynum had 10 points and 10 reboundson the night for Los Angeles, which made 41 trips to thefree-throw line, while Minnesota had just 14 attempts.
     
  2. SportsTicker

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    LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The post-Kevin Garnett era for theMinnesota Timberwolves has not gotten off to a good start. KobeBryant and Lamar Odom made sure it didn't get any better.

    Bryant scored 30 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished outseven assists and Odom added 18 points and 10 rebounds as theLos Angeles Lakers posted a 107-93 victory over the Timberwolveson Friday night.


    Al Jefferson had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Minnesota,which has started the season with four consecutive losses afterdealing four-time All-Star forward Garnett in a blockbustertrade during the offseason.


    "Kevin is gone," Jefferson said. "He is history. He's gone onwith his career in Boston. We are trying to establish somethinghere."


    Bryant shot 9-of-19 from the floor, knocked down three shotsfrom the arc and came away with two steals.


    "We've just got to continue to work hard," Bryant said. "It'ssuch a long season. We've got Lamar back now and that is a bigstep in the right direction and we just have to get the rest ofthe guys out there."


    Odom, who was making his first appearance of the seasonfollowing offseason shoulder surgery, played 41 minutes andbrought an energy to the Lakers that they did not appear to havein their first four contests.


    "I had Odom in and out of there a couple of times - gave him abreak," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "He has great staminaand he played well tonight."


    "Lamar looked great," Bryant said. "He didn't look tired. Helooked aggressive, and it looked like he was in good rhythm."

    The Lakers took control with Bryant on the bench in the secondquarter, capping a 12-2 run with a 3-pointer from VladimirRadmanovic to grab a 42-38 edge with 5:44 left in the secondquarter.


    Bryant had 14 points in the first half as Los Angeles took a56-50 lead into the break.


    The Lakers came out strong in the second half and burst out witha 12-2 run, which was highlighted by Lamar Odom's full-courtpass to a wide-open Bryant for an easy layup.


    "I thought the difference was the first five minutes of thethird quarter," Minnesota coach Randy Wittman said. "LA cameout and went on a 12-2 run to start the third. It put us in ahole that was too much to overcome."


    Sebastian Telfair helped cut the deficit to 90-81 by scoringseven points in the first five minutes of the final session, butthe Lakers did not allow the Timberwolves to get any closerthan seven the rest of the way.


    Three players that came to Minnesota in the Garnett trade ledthe way for the Timberwolves. The 22-year-old Jefferson has nowhad a double-double in each game this season, while Telfairchipped in 15 points and Ryan Gomes finished with 17.

    "We missed a lot of short shots tonight," Gomes said. "Theyshot a lot more free throws than we did. Overall, we played apretty good game. But playing well is not good enough when youdon't win."


    Both Chris Mihm and Andrew Bynum had 10 points and 10 reboundson the night for Los Angeles, which made 41 trips to thefree-throw line, while Minnesota had just 14 attempts.
     

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