Lakers 119, Timberwolves 115
LOS ANGELES -- Forward Kobe Bryant scored a season-high 38 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers ended a 10-game skid with a 119-115 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night at Staples Center.
Six foul shots by Bryant, who scored 14 of the last 18 points for Los Angeles, in the final 17 seconds sealed the win for the Lakers (10-41), who avoided setting a franchise mark for consecutive losses. They tied the 1993-94 Lakers, who lost their final 10 games of the season under coach Earvin "Magic" Johnson, in a 101-82 defeat by the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.
Bryant hit 10 of 21 shots from the floor, including seven of 11 from 3-point range. Guard Lou Williams scored 20 points, guard D'Angelo Russell added 18 and guard Jordan Clarkson finished with 16 for the Lakers. Forward Julius Randle had 15 points and 12 rebounds for Los Angeles.
Guard Andrew Wiggins had 30 points for the Timberwolves before fouling out with 7.5 seconds left in the contest. Forward Gorgui Dieng had 19 points and center Karl-Anthony Town scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds for Minnesota. Guard Zach LaVine also had 14 points for the Timberwolves, who lost their fifth in a row and 12th straight road game. Point guard Ricky Rubio chipped in 10 points and 15 assists.
The Lakers led 92-81 heading into the final period before Minnesota battled back. A 3-pointer and a layup by LaVine capped a 21-9 run and put the Timberwolves up 102-101 with 5:15 remaining. However, back-to-back 3-pointers by Bryant gave Los Angeles a five-point advantage less than a minute later.
LaVine scored on a drive to slice the margin to 109-108 with 1:51, but a bucket by Randle over Towns in the lane gave the Lakers a three-point lead with 1:04 left.
Two free throws by Dieng with 46.2 seconds remaining made it a one-point game again, but Bryant's jumper made it 113-110 with 26.4 seconds left.
The Timberwolves played again without forward Kevin Garnett (sore right knee), guard Kevin Martin (sore right wrist) and center Nikola Pekovic (sore right foot).
NOTES: Minnesota coach Sam Mitchell said one of the best attributes of rookie C Karl-Anthony Towns is his desire to be one of the NBA's best. "He really wants to be good," Mitchell said. "He wants to win. It's not one thing; Karl can do a lot of things. The one thing I like about Karl is when you point out things he's not doing that he needs to get better at he makes a pointed effort to do it." ... C Roy Hibbert is the only Laker to start every game. ... A sore right knee will keep Lakers F Larry Nance Jr. out until after the All-Star break. ... The Timberwolves face the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday at Staples Center, while the Lakers embark on a four-game road swing beginning Thursday in New Orleans.