GAME 3 REPORT

FIRST QUARTER

MINNESOTA 29 LAKERS 24

Highlight reel: The tipoff was 8:15 PDT to accommodate TNT’s tripleheader, too late for the kiddies in the Twin Cities area, two hours east of here -- not to mention those in the Eastern time zone. And the tipoff of the Boston-Indiana game was a few minutes after 3, too early for kids coming home from school.

Not in the box score: What was that pass from Robert Horry late in the quarter? Was he trying to break one of TNT’s cameras on the backboard? At any rate, his errant pass clanged off the basket support. Coach Phil Jackson’s decision to start him over Mark Madsen was a mild surprise.

Winning numbers: The Timberwolves’ 13-for-22 shooting.

Wrong number: No. 5, Horry’s jersey number.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- Derek Fisher 11; Timberwolves -- Kevin Garnett 10.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- Shaquille O’Neal, Horry 3; Timberwolves -- Garnett, Rasho Nesterovic 3.

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SECOND QUARTER

MINNESOTA 52 LAKERS 46

Highlight reel: There’s not much to like about the Lakers’ game. They were out of sync for too long to take back the momentum the Timberwolves seized with a strong start. Fisher’s hustle and a three-pointer late got the Lakers within six, but Troy Hudson, a point guard who shoots first, remains a puzzle for him and the rest of the Lakers.

Not in the box score: The spark the Timberwolves continue to receive from players other than Garnett. Hudson is perhaps the biggest contributor, but Kendall Gill and Rod Strickland gave Coach Flip Saunders quality minutes in the quarter. So far, the Lakers haven’t exploited their advantage with O’Neal against Nesterovic. They should go to him more often.

Winning number: A six-point lead by halftime.

Wrong number: Kobe Bryant’s two-for-eight shooting.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- O’Neal 6; Timberwolves -- Hudson 7.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- O’Neal 5; Timberwolves -- Garnett 3.

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THIRD QUARTER

MINNESOTA 80 LAKERS 71

Highlight reel: Garnett made a jumper to start the quarter, then climbed Fisher’s back to tip home a miss, then watched Wally Szczerbiak swipe the inbounds pass and swish a jumper, then hit another jumper, then one more. It’s Garnett’s world, the Lakers are merely along for the ride. It’s a bumpy one, but what did you expect?

Not in the box score: There’s no Laker capable of slowing Garnett. Horry got the call and couldn’t do it. Mark Madsen relieved Horry late in the quarter, but the best he could do was a jump ball with Garnett. Somehow Devean George ended up with the ball and the Lakers seemed to have a bit of momentum. Didn’t last long, though.

Winning number: Fisher’s 23 points kept the Lakers close.

Wrong number: Three-for-10 shooting from Bryant and O’Neal.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- Fisher 9; Timberwolves -- Garnett 11.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- O’Neal 5; Timberwolves -- Garnett, Szczerbiak 4.

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FOURTH QUARTER

MINNESOTA 101 LAKERS 101

Highlight reel: Bryant hit a three-pointer, got fouled, made a free throw for a four-point play that rescued the Lakers, but he missed one of two at the line with 12.1 to play. Go figure. On to overtime. Midway through this quarter and the Lakers had their first lead since the first quarter, O’Neal looked unstoppable and Garnett had three fouls and zero points. Staples Center crackled with energy.

Not in the box score: The Lakers still need a way to better solve the Timberwolves. They got an extra five minutes to try to get it right. Garnett offers a multitude of challenges, but the Lakers need to shoot better and defend better than they did in the last two games.

Winning numbers: A tie for the Lakers after regulation.

Wrong number: Zero points from Fisher.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- Bryant 13; Timberwolves -- Hudson 9, Garnett 8.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- O’Neal 3; Timberwolves -- Garnett 4.

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OVERTIME

MINNESOTA 114 LAKERS 110

Highlight reel: Garnett fouled out 12 seconds into overtime, taking with him 33 points and 14 rebounds. There’s no one capable of making that up for Minnesota, although Anthony Peeler dropped in two quick buckets. Marc Jackson calmly sank two free throws with 11.6 left for a 111-108 lead, then made one more (after O’Neal made one) for a 112-109 lead. Bryant missed a three-pointer and that was that.

Not in the box score: John Belushi’s hysterical call to arms from the movie “Animal House” never fails to inspire fans when it’s played on the scoreboard, especially that bit about it not being over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor. It didn’t do much for the Lakers.

Winning numbers: The Timberwolves’ 2-1 series lead.

Wrong number: The Lakers’ one-for-10 shooting.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- O’Neal 6; Timberwolves -- Hudson, Peeler 4.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- Bryant 2; Timberwolves -- Jackson, Peeler, 3.