Lakers Beat Pesky Timberwolves

The outcome is not predetermined whenever the Lakers play an expansion team. Once every decade or so, they will shock the NBA world by losing to one of the league’s new and underprivileged.

Since the Lakers already lost to the Orlando Magic this season, the prospect of another loss Sunday night, to the Minnesota Timberwolves at home in this case, seemed unfathomable.

It was. The Timberwolves offered only minimum resistance, losing, 115-96, to the Lakers before 17,505 at the Forum.

Give Minnesota this much: they have not made it as easy for the Lakers as other expansion teams. December in Minnesota, the Timberwolves took the Lakers to overtime before losing. In Sunday’s rematch, they at least put up a fight before facing the inevitable.

In the end, however, it was another predictable easy Laker win. It was their second in a row, having pounded the Cleveland Cavaliers by 31 points on Friday night. The victory improved the Lakers’ record to 43-13 and gave them a 4 1/2-game lead over the Portland Trail Blazers in the Pacific Division.

Laker front-court players particularly thrived against the Timberwolves. A.C. Green scored 27 points--tying his season high--and grabbed 10 rebounds. Reserve forward Orlando Woolridge added 21 points, his third straight game scoring more than 15 points.

Tyrone Corbin and Randy Breuer each scored 18 points, and former Laker Tony Campbell added 16 for Minnesota.

All told, the Lakers shot 61.6% and outrebounded the Timberwolves, 33-27.

Bill Musselman, Minnesota coach, was suitably impressed.

“They are the best team in the league that we’ve seen,” he said. “Only one who sits on the bench can know the beauty of the Lakers’ execution. Their shooting from the perimeter was excellent and they are showing that they are geared for the playoffs.”

Playing seven of their next eight games on the road, the Lakers perhaps needed another easy home game. As in Friday’s victory over the Cavaliers, most of the Laker starters sat out most of the fourth quarter.

The Lakers did not really take full control until the third quarter, when they parlayed a 10-1 run into a 69-51 lead. Minnesota tried to rally, but a 9-3 run midway through the quarter only sliced the Lakers’ lead to 11 points.

Quickly recovering, the Lakers extended the lead to 18 points on Woolridge’s jump shot with 1:52 left.

Two quick baskets at the start of the fourth quarter gave the Lakers a 20-point lead. From that point on, the Timberwolves were no real threat.

The Lakers showed their versatility on a night when Magic Johnson attempted only six shots and finished with nine points and 15 assists. James Worthy and Byron Scott each had 14 points and Vlade Divac added 11 points.

“We have nine guys,” Laker Coach Pat Riley said. “If it’s not James, it’s Orlando or Vlade. Versatility is about that, about not having to squeeze.”

Added Johnson: “We don’t want one, two or three people to have to carry the load. Every night, we just have to play. Tonight, they left A.C. open and he was hitting. Somebody always has to pick up the slack.”

Woolridge has been an offensive force lately. He tied his season high with 24 points against Seattle last Wednesday, had 17 in Friday night’s victory over Cleveland and had 21 Sunday.

“It helps to have the freedom to shoot when I have the opportunity,” Woolridge said. “Last year, I was hesitant. I was thinking too much. When I play without thinking, good things happen.”

Laker Notes

Guard Larry Drew missed Sunday night’s game to be with his wife, Sharon, who was in labor with the couple’s first child at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. . . . Josh Rosenfeld, former Laker public relations director, has been hired as director of international public relations for the NBA. Rosenfeld resigned from the Lakers in November.