• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Bryant tries to follow 65-point outing vs. Timberwolves

Mar 18, 2007 - 3:16 PM Minnesota (28-36) at LA Lakers (34-32) 8:00 pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Kobe Bryant seems intent on repeating as the league's scoring champ.

Coming off a season-high 65-point performance against the Portland Trail Blazers, Bryant looks to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to just their second victory in nine outings Sunday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After averaging 35.4 points to capture his first scoring title last season, Bryant (29.7) is second to Denver's Carmelo Anthony (29.9) this season. He is averaging 35.1 in his last seven outings.

A nine-time All-Star, Bryant made 23-of-39 shots from the floor, including 8-of-12 from the arc, and 11-of-12 free throws as the Lakers snapped a seven-game losing streak with Friday's 116-111 overtime triumph over the Trail Blazers.

Bryant scored 24 points in the fourth quarter and nine in the extra period in the second-highest scoring game of his career. He had 81 last season against the Toronto Raptors, the league's second-best performance behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point outing in 1962.

There is still time for the Lakers to turn things around and attain a higher playoff seeding. They are in a virtual tie with the Denver Nuggets (33-31) for sixth place in the Western Conference, three games in front of the Golden State Warriors (32-36).

Looking to halt a two-year postseason drought, the Timberwolves have dropped six of their last eight contests and are two games in back of the Warriors for the final playoff spot in the West.

Averaging just 89 points in its last four games, Minnesota suffered a 106-86 loss to Golden State on Friday.

Kevin Garnett, who tops the league in rebounding (12.6), is averaging 27.1 points and 12.1 boards in his last six contests, including five double-doubles. He had 19 points and 13 boards against the Warriors.