L.A. Grinds Down Wolves

O'Neal, Bryant Lead the Way, Lakers Take 2-1 Lead in Series: Lakers 100, Timberwolves 89

LOS ANGELES, May 25 -- Following a dismal Game 2 performance that players admitted lacked the intensity of a would-be champion, the Los Angeles Lakers vowed to play a more aggressive, physical game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.

Spurred early by the blistering shooting of Gary Payton and carried late by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, the Lakers were true to their word Tuesday night, winning 100-89 before 18,997 at sold-out Staples Center. The win put Los Angeles up 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, with Game 4 here Thursday night.

O'Neal led Los Angeles with 22 points and 17 rebounds -- a far cry from his Game 2 effort, when he scored just 14 points on 4-of-10 shooting. The Lakers center said the team had plenty of room for improvement in Game 4.

"I feel we were erratic at times, playing a wild style game," he said. "We just need to play a whole lot better, and I know we can play a whole lot better."

Bryant appeared almost absent from the game in the first half, missing the only two shots he took in the first 24 minutes, but he finished with 22 points, including back-to-back three-pointers in the final quarter that proved decisive.

Payton scored a postseason-high 18 points -- 14 in the opening quarter -- to go with his nine assists, and for him, the key to victory was moving the ball.

"When we rotate the ball," he said, "everybody's getting in the flow, we get in rhythm for shots, then we start knocking them down."

The Lakers' effort was a sharp contrast to the 71-point outing in Game 2, which tied the lowest playoff output in franchise history.

Minnesota was topped by Kevin Garnett, who scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. The Timberwolves also got strong contributions from Sam Cassell, who ended with 18 points despite battling back spasms, and from Wally Szczerbiak, who added 21 points off the bench.

Latrell Sprewell finished with 17 points, though most came after the Lakers opened a 17-point lead late in the fourth quarter.

Payton's early scoring was especially significant in light of Bryant's uncharacteristically aloof start. Scoreless in the opening period, Bryant took only a single shot and in one 14-second span, committed consecutive turnovers. Still, thanks to a seven-foot hook shot by O'Neal, Los Angeles led 24-17 at the end of the quarter.

O'Neal continued to assert himself in the second period. After an 18-foot jumper by Fred Hoiberg cut Los Angeles' lead to 26-23, O'Neal scored twice, his second basket a two-handed dunk that gave the Lakers a 34-30 advantage.

Forced to pay extra defensive attention to O'Neal, Minnesota left Los Angeles' perimeter shooters open, and paid for it. Lakers forward Devean George hit back-to-back three-pointers, and his breakaway dunk with 20 seconds left gave Los Angeles a 45-35 halftime lead.

It was a dominant half for Los Angeles, which shot 55.6 percent while limiting Minnesota to 40 percent shooting. If not for Garnett's 12 points and the courageous effort of Cassell, who scored 15 points, the Timberwolves would have been on the receiving end of a blowout.

Instead, Cassell drew Minnesota to within 45-41 in the opening minutes of the third quarter. Los Angeles surged ahead again, going up 50-41 after three consecutive free throws by Bryant -- his first points of the game -- but back-to-back baskets by Minnesota reserve Trenton Hassell kept the Timberwolves within five.

Minnesota then turned to Szczerbiak. Entering the period with two points, Szczerbiak went on a one-man run, scoring all 14 of Minnesota's points over a three-minute stretch, and pulling the Timberwolves to within 66-64 with 1:03 remaining in the period. But Bryant started to awaken, and after hitting a pair of free throws and an eight-foot jumper, Los Angeles finished the quarter ahead, 70-65.

The Lakers rode that momentum into the final period, turning up the defensive pressure on Szczerbiak and Garnett while continuing to go inside to O'Neal, and after the Lakers center hit one of two free throws, the lead was back up to 83-72.

After a timeout and a jumper by Szczerbiak, Bryant hit consecutive three-pointers, giving the Lakers a 91-74 lead.