MINNEAPOLIS — The Lakers’ bench has been scuffling a lot lately, so that makes it hard to blow out anyone. The Lakers wound up mired in this tight game against the scrappy Timberwolves. Fortunately for the Lakers, they continue to get standout performances from Lamar Odom.
Odom’s right-handed tip-in of Kobe Bryant’s missed 3-point shot boosted the Lakers to a 108-105 lead. That bucket matched Odom at 25 points for the game with teammates Bryant and Pau Gasol in a three-pronged attack that overshadowed the mediocre work of the Lakers’ bench.
Minnesota’s Ryan Gomes air-balled a would-be tying 3-pointer when left open by Odom with 16 seconds left. Bryant made the second foul shot at the other end for a 109-105 lead before Randy Foye dropped a 3-pointer for Minnesota at the other end with 9.2 seconds left.
After two Bryant free throws, Foye then tried a skyscraping 3-pointer over Odom at the final buzzer to tie but was well off.
The Lakers escaped despite having a major threat down the stretch from Minnesota point guard Sebastian Telfair getting past Derek Fisher and drawing Lakers’ defensive help or on one play breezing alone to the rim. Telfair had 20 points for the Timberwolves.
Odom had 14 rebounds to go with his 10-for-14 shooting effort. Bryant had 28 points on 11-of-21 shooting and seven assists.
