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Kobe shines as Lakers stay perfect

Nov 10, 2010 - 6:46 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Kobe Bryant scored 33 points on 12-of-28 shooting and Pau Gasol added 18 points and 10 rebounds, as the Los Angeles Lakers stayed unbeaten with a 99-94 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Lamar Odom and Ron Artest scored 15 and 13 points, respectively, for the Lakers, who are three wins away from matching the franchise-record 11-0 mark they set in the 1997-98 campaign.

Kevin Love pulled down a career-high 24 rebounds -- 11 offensive -- to go with 23 points to pace Minnesota, which has dropped 12 straight to LA and are off to a slow 1-7 start.

"Just to perform well [was nice]," said Love, a Santa Monica native and UCLA product. "If you can't get high to play in Staples Center and against the world champs you should go home."

The Timberwolves were in it despite turning the ball over 27 times.

They led 69-68 midway through the third quarter but made just two field goals the rest of the frame. Gasol started and ended a 14-2 burst before Maurice Ager's heave from midcourt cut Minnesota's deficit to 82-74 at the buzzer.

The Lakers didn't pull away until the closing minute. Love's layup made it a 96-91 game with 1:22 remaining, and a Bryant miss at the other end gave Minnesota a chance to make it a one-possession game.

Michael Beasley, however, stepped out of bounds on the baseline, and Bryant rattled home a shot in the lane to essentially seal the game with 41.4 seconds remaining.

"Shooters take shots and you kind of live with the consequences and it worked out for us," Bryant said.

The first half saw 12 lead changes and seven ties. Minnesota led 28-26 after the opening quarter, and Bryant's late three-point play gave the Lakers a 58-52 advantage at the break.

Game Notes

The Timberwolves have dropped 17 straight on the road dating back to last season...Beasley scored 17 points for the T'Wolves, who received 13 points and nine assists from Sebastian Telfair...The Lakers' next three games are in Denver, at home against Phoenix and at Milwaukee.