There aren't many things that can tear apart a team, especially a team with designs on contending, than doubt. The Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night allowed a 17-0 to a woefully undermanned Milwaukee Bucks team, a run from which the Lakers never recovered as they lost their seventh road game in eight tries this season. On Sunday at the Target Center, the Lakers held an 18-point lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter, a lead that was completely erased just minutes into the fourth quarter.
At this point, there was definitely doubt, if not outright panic, wondering would this Laker team ever win another road game again? After all, this was the Timberwolves, a team the Lakers had beaten 15 straight times, including seven straight in Minnesota. Yet the Lakers were about to give away another game they should have won.
That's when the Big Three showed up.
With Minnesota leading by a point with just over three minutes remaining, the Lakers leaned on Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum. On six straight possessions the Lakers scored, with all three sharing equally:
- Bynum dunked (from Gasol)
- Gasol jump shot (from Derek Fisher)
- Bynum dunked (from Gasol)
- Kobe hit a pull-up jumper
- Kobe hit a runner
- Gasol hit two free throws
The 12-2 run was efficient and deadly, and has been sorely missing for most of the season. The three combined for 84 points and 27 rebounds on the night, led by 35 points and 14 boards from Kobe, and the Lakers hit the century mark for just the second time this season. In the end, the Lakers did win 106-101, their 16th consecutive win over Minnesota.
Never in doubt.
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