Past Meets Future as Lakers Top Timberwolves

20. Final. 115. 86. 119

Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett have played a combined 41 seasons in the NBA. Garnett is the all-time scorer for the Timberwolves and a two-time champion with the Boston Celtics. Bryant is a five-time champion and third all-time leading scorer in the NBA.

But on Tuesday night, Bryant’s Lakers and the Timberwolves saw big performances from several of the leagues newest stars LA’s young core of D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle had a battle with Minnesota’s number one picks Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins.

Similar to their opening night contest, the Lakers had a double-digit lead that the Timberwolves erased in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers had built a 16 point lead that the Wolves chipped away at in the third, but it was a 6-0 run to begin the fourth quarter that gave them new life as they cut the lead down to five. Despite the Lakers best efforts, the Timberwolves took the lead with five minutes to go.

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In response, Bryant jolted the Staples Center with two three-pointers to give LA a five point lead again.

Wiggins went off for 18 points in the second half, including going up against Bryant in the fourth quarter. Despite his strong performance, he fouled out with under a minute to go.

In the games final sequence, Zach LaVine hit a three-pointer to make it a one possession game with only seconds to go. It wasn’t enough as Bryant hit six straight free-throws to keep Los Angeles ahead for the victory.

The win was a huge one for the Lakers as they lost both meetings to the Timberwolves in games that came down to the final possession. The victory breaks the Lakers 10 game losing streak.

Kobe Bryant had a vintage night with a season high 38 points, including seven three-pointers.

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Julius Randle had his nineteenth double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. His play on the boards was crucial on the defensive end in the fourth quarter.

D’Angelo Russell bounced back from a poor performance on Sunday night with 18 points while Lou Williams had 20.

Andrew Wiggins led the Wolves with 30 points. Gorgui Dieng was the second leading scorer with 19.

Karl-Anthony Towns had a quieter night with 14 points and nine rebounds.

Bryant praised the 20 year old Wiggins, telling him that his fadeaway jump shot looked very familiar. Wiggins gave the Mamba credit in telling Bryant that he got it straight from him.

Not everyone had praise for Bryant however, as Timberwolves coach Sam Mitchell had choice words about the Lakers star. Mitchell was the coach of the Toronto Raptors when Kobe had his historic 81 point game and when asked to reflect on the performance stated “…I think I’ve answered that question for the last five years enough.”

On Bryant scoring 38 points during tonights game, Mitchell stated:

"“I hate him. If I don’t ever see him again, it will be too soon. I hate him.”"

Mitchell did admit however, that Bryant was a “top 5, 6, 7 player.”

Before the game, Bryant was presented by Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak with his official jersey for his final All-Star Game in Toronto.

Kevin Garnett was absent from the anticipated contest with Bryant with a nagging leg injury. Garnett has played 21 seasons in the NBA, a career that began in Minnesota and included a championship stint with the Boston Celtics.

Next: How Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook Could Land In Los Angeles

Garnett and Bryant have met 76 times in their career. Fifty-one of them have been in the regular season and 25 in the playoffs. Of course, their most memorable battles were in the 2008 and 2010 NBA Finals. Garnett and his Celtics won the first meeting in 2008 four games to one. In 2010, the Lakers overcame the Celtics for their second consecutive championship in a seven game classic.

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