GAME 2 REPORT

FIRST QUARTER

LAKERS 24 MINNESOTA 32

Highlight reel: Kobe Bryant made another difficult layup look easy early in the quarter. From the right wing, he drove left around two Minnesota defenders and then sliced in front of the Timberwolves’ Ervin Johnson, who grabbed only air swinging at Bryant’s soft, right-hand finger roll.

Not in the box score: The confident and determined look Minnesota sixth-man Wally Szczerbiak had when he entered the game to replace Trent Hassell at small forward. With the Timberwolves hurting for offense, Szczerbiak gave his team a lift with nine points on four-for-five shooting.

Winning number: 64.7, the shooting percentage in the quarter by the Timberwolves, who made 11 of 17 field-goal attempts. Szczerbiak and Latrell Sprewell combined to make seven of nine shots and score 18 points.

Wrong number: Zero, points for Laker starting forwards Karl Malone and Devean George. Malone took one shot and had only one rebound. George missed his only field-goal attempt and two free throws.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- Bryant 14, Payton 6, Shaquille O’Neal 4; Timberwolves -- Szczerbiak and Sprewell 9, Kevin Garnett 6, Darrick Martin and Johnson 4.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- O’Neal and Bryant 2; Timberwolves -- Garnett 3, Sprewell, Johnson and Szczerbiak 2.

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SECOND QUARTER

LAKERS 37 MINNESOTA 51

Highlight reel: Garnett has developed into one of the NBA’s best turnaround jump shooters and he made an impressive shot from the baseline over Slava Medvedenko. Bryant was late with a double-team, and Garnett faded to his right and made a high-arcing shot while being fouled by Medvedenko. Garnett missed the free throw.

Not in the box score: Sprewell has been a consistent spark for the Timberwolves in the series and he made a timely shot to help keep them in control heading into halftime, a three-point basket from the right corner as the shot clock expired.

Winning number: 10, points in the first half by Martin, who stepped in after Cassell left the game. Martin did a solid job running the offense and made three of seven shots, including a put-back layin as time ran out in the quarter.

Wrong number: 9:58, the time left in the quarter when the Lakers lost Malone for the remainder of the half because of foul trouble. Malone went to the bench after being called for his third foul when he charged into Fred Hoiberg.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- Bryant 5, Luke Walton and Derek Fisher 3; Timberwolves -- Martin 6, Garnett and Madsen 4, Sprewell 3.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- O’Neal 5, Medvedenko, Fisher and Payton 2; Timberwolves -- Hoiberg and Garnett 4.

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THIRD QUARTER

LAKERS 56 MINNESOTA 68

Highlight reel: Bryant put together consecutive layups that were spectacular, highlighted by a ball-fake that made Martin fall on his back and a scoop shot over Michael Olowokandi that was through the net before the former Clipper center jumped.

Not in the box score: The defensive play of Garnett, who was able to get his hands on the ball enough to create havoc with the Laker offensive flow. Garnett not only was a nuisance deflecting and intercepting passes, but he also played great defense on Malone, who was limited to two points in the first three quarters.

Winning number: Eight, rebounds in the quarter by O’Neal, who helped keep the Lakers in it by dominating the boards and giving them added scoring opportunities with three offensive rebounds. The Lakers outrebounded Minnesota in the quarter, 19-6.

Wrong number: Seven, points for O’Neal in the first three quarters on two-for-seven shooting from the field and three for 10 from the free-throw line. After being an offensive force in Game 1, O’Neal could not get going in Game 2.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- Bryant 6, Kareem Rush, George and O’Neal 3; Timberwolves -- Szczerbiak and Garnett 5, Sprewell 3.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- O’Neal 8, Payton, Malone and Bryant 3; Timberwolves -- Oliver Miller and Johnson 2.

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FOURTH QUARTER

LAKERS 71 MINNESOTA 89

Highlight reel: With the Timberwolves in complete control and leading by double figures, the Lakers started to lose their cool and the game got chippy. Payton and Szczerbiak got things going when they went face to face after a Szczerbiak foul on Fisher. Malone then was ejected for running over Martin, who was attempting to set a back screen.

Not in the box score: After Medvedenko made a driving layup over Garnett, the Timberwolves’ captain stepped up to put the game away with consecutive baskets. Garnett drove around the Laker backup for a two-hand layin and followed with a mid-range jump shot in Medvedenko’s face to give the Timberwolves an 18-point lead.

Winning numbers: 24 and 11, the points and rebounds in the game for Garnett, who bounced back from an average Game 1 with a strong effort. Garnett made 10 of 20 shots and had three assists and two steals.

Wrong number: 71 points in the game for the Lakers, who looked out of sync most of the game in matching a team playoff low since it came to Los Angeles in the 1960-61 season. The Lakers missed 35 of their last 52 shots.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- O’Neal 7, Malone 3, Bryant and Medvedenko 2; Timberwolves -- Garnett 9, Martin 5, Mark Madsen and Sprewell 2.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- O’Neal and Malone 3; Timberwolves -- Garnett and Johnson 3.