Maybe the Lakers’ issues aren’t that bad.
They suited up only one center, their top player was battling stomach
flu, and they had to walk to the game in blizzard conditions because
their bus never arrived, but they still beat the hapless Minnesota
Timberwolves, 116-95, Tuesday in an eerily empty Target Center.
  
 
Wolves record: 2-14
 
 
 
 
 
Bryant and starting center Andrew Bynum missed the Lakers’ morning shootaround on Tuesday after each fell ill.
Bynum, the promising 7-foot center whom the Lakers offered last
summer in Kevin Garnett trade talks, did not feel well enough to play
Tuesday evening.
Bryant did. 
 
 
Zero intensity on defense. Sloppy ball handling.
Poor shooting. A perfect storm of ineptness that has the Wolves
searching for answers.
 
 

Simply put, the Lakers are doing what every other team in the league
should do against the Timberwolves. They are doubling Al Jefferson and
daring someone, anyone else to beat them. The problem? No one else on
Minnesota’s roster has stepped up to help Jefferson on a consistent
basis, due to either the timidity or inability to do so. 
 
 

L.A. ended up winning 116-95, with the most telling statistic the 28-11
Laker advantage in assists. Minnesota is clearly inhibited by the fact
that it has just one playmaker on the perimeter, and teams can afford
to load up on him (Telfair). Sebastian managed 16 points and three
assists, but didn’t seem to have many options even when getting into
the lane in the first place. Rhino finished with 13 points off the
bench and Brewer added nine. No Wolf had more than three dimes
(Jefferson, Telfair, Walker).
 
 
9 Number of losses during the Wolves’ 2-14 start in which they have surrendered 100 points or more.