Minnesota Timberwolves Team Report - January 31

(Basketball News) - Latrell Sprewell scored 19 of his 35 points in the third quarter, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 97-84 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday at the Staples Center.

Minnesota trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half, but Sprewell and Sam Cassell led the team back for its sixth win in seven games. Cassell scored 16 of his 28 in the fourth quarter and added 11 assists, while Kevin Garnett finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Sprewell led the Timberwolves comeback with eight points during a 15-1 run, including a bucket that gave Minnesota a 59-57 lead with 2:37 remaining in the third quarter.

The teams see-sawed after that until a 10-2 run in the fourth quarter, capped by a pair of Cassell free throws with 5:00 left, gave the Timberwolves an 82-75 lead.

Minnesota went ahead 90-80 on two free throws by Sprewell with 2:47 to play, and Los Angeles never threatened after that.

The Timberwolves are just 4-24 all-time against the Lakers in LA.

Sprewell is averaging 31 points and 6.5 rebounds in his last two games. He has scored in double digits in nine of his last 10 contests.

Minnesota is off until Sunday when it hosts Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers.