It wasn't pretty, but the Los Angeles Lakers were able to snap a pair of dubious streaks on Sunday night in Minneapolis. Kobe Bryant scored 35 points and grabbed a season-high 14 rebounds, leading the Lakers to a 106-101 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The win snapped a four-game road losing streak for the Lakers, who are now 2-7 away from home on the season.
The Lakers also scored 100 points for just the second time all season, snapping a streak of 13 consecutive games under the century mark, a franchise record for the shot clock era. The Lakers have now beaten the Timberwolves 16 straight times, including eight straight in Minnesota.
After scoring 10 points in the second quarter, Bryant scored 13 more points in the third, leading the Lakers to an 18-point cushion. But Minnesota closed out the third quarter on a 19-6 run to cut the lead to five heading into the final period.
Minnesota continued their onslaught in the fourth quarter, taking their first lead of the game with 5:09 remaining in the game on a tip-in by Michael Beasley. The Timberwolves held a one-point lead after a three-pointer by Martell Webster with three minutes remaining, but the Lakers responded with a 12-2 run to put the game away.
Pau Gasol scored a season-high 28 points on 11-of-15 shooting, including 14 points in the first quarter as the Lakers built a 22-19 lead. Andrew Bynum added 21 points and seven rebounds for the Lakers, who were outrebounded 52-41 by Minnesota.
Kevin Love had 33 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Timberwolves.
Metta World Peace started his first game of the season for the Lakers, and though he had just two points, four rebounds, and three assists in 33 minutes, he helped spread the floor. The Lakers ran several plays through World Peace on the low post, and were able to get, and make, open shots. The Lakers shot 50.6% in the win.
Bryant made five three-pointers in the win, and made 14 of his 29 field goal attempts for the game. Kobe passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most field goals made in Lakers franchise history, and now has 9,946 made baskets in his 16-year career.
The Lakers return home to host the Charlotte Bobcats Tuesday night before embarking on their six-game Grammy road trip.
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