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Bryant, injury-riddled Lakers face fading Timberwolves

Mar 6, 2007 - 4:12 PM La Lakers (33-27) at Minnesota (26-33) 8:00 pm EST

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - The Los Angeles Lakers have injury problems. The Minnesota Timberwolves have bigger problems.

The injury-riddled Lakers hope to regain some momentum Tuesday when they visit the Timberwolves, who are headed toward their third straight appearance in the lottery.

The Lakers have three sidelined forwards - Lamar Odom (torn cartilage in left shoulder), Vladimir Radmanovic (separated right shoulder) and Luke Walton (right ankle sprain).

The injuries have the Lakers in their worst stretch of the season, having dropped eight of 11 games. Sunday's 99-94 setback at Phoenix was their second in succession. Superstar Kobe Bryant scored 31 points - his 24th 30-point game this season - but made just 11-of-28 shots for the Lakers. He got some help from forward Brian Cook, who had 22 points and 14 rebounds.

Los Angeles is looking for its fourth consecutive victory over Minnesota, which has lost three in a row and six of seven.

The Timberwolves are coming off Sunday's 124-117 double-overtime loss at Boston in which Ricky Davis scored a season-high 35 points and Kevin Garnett added 33, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for his third triple-double of the season.

Minnesota is three games behind Denver for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. It has averaged just 91 points in two losses to Los Angeles this season.