T’Wolves outlast Lakers in double-OT

Minnesota played its second double-overtime contest in three days. The Timberwolves fell 124-117 to the Celtics on Sunday.

Kevin Garnett scored 26 points and grabbed 17 boards for the Wolves, who snapped a three-game skid. Mark Blount added 18 points for Minnesota.

"It couldn’t come at a better time," said Garnett of the win. "Tonight’s win was definitely the definition of a team win."

Kobe Bryant poured in 40 points and raked in 13 boards and had eight assists for the Lakers, who dropped their third straight game. Smush Parker scored 24 points, and Brian Cook added 14 points for the Lakers.

The wheels fell off for LA in the second overtime, as a number of Laker turnovers spurred a 10-0 Wolves run to close the game. LA scored only two points in the second extra session.

"We couldn’t figure out how to attack it," said Bryant of the Wolves zone defense in the overtimes. "It disrupted us."

A Davis jumper with 3:23 left in the second OT put the Wolves ahead 109-107 to start the 10-point run. Randy Foye added a layup, Rashad McCants another bucket and Garnett hit four free throws.

Davis’ three put Minnesota ahead, 103-102, with 1:01 left in the first OT. Bryant quickly answered, drilling a three with 43.8 seconds left to put the Lakers up 105-103.

A Davis put-back of a Garnett miss tied the game at 105 with 3.3 seconds left, forcing the second overtime.

Blount heated up late in the fourth for the Wolves, hitting three straight three-pointers, the last one cutting the LA lead to 97-96 with 47 seconds left.

A Marko Jaric blocked shot and Garnett recovery gave the Wolves possession, down only one point, with 6.5 seconds left. Jaric promptly threw the ball right to Parker on the following inbounds play, though, and the Wolves immediately fouled.

Parker missed one of his two free throws, and Minnesota had 5.2 seconds left, down 98-96.

Davis was fouled on the following possession, and made both free throws with 3.1 ticks left to tie the game at 98.

Foye stole the following inbounds pass and nearly made a halfcourt shot at the buzzer, but the shot rimmed out, and the game went to overtime.

LA led 78-71 entering the fourth quarter.

Minnesota twice rallied from 13 points down in the first half, and only trailed 53-50 at the break.

Game Notes

Minnesota started 1-of-16 from behind the arc before Blount heated up. The Wolves finished 5-of-21...Bryant started 9-of-16 from the field, but shot 4- of-14 the rest of the way...Craig Smith contributed 11 boards for Minnesota, which outrebounded the Lakers 58-46.