NBA: LA Lakers 110, Minnesota 90

LOS ANGELES, March 7 (UPI) -- Kobe Bryant paced Los Angeles to a 50 percent shooting effort Friday night and the Lakers coasted past Minnesota 110-90.

The Lakers won their second straight after suffering rare back-to-back losses. They finished a four-game sweep of Minnesota this season and have won 10 of their last 11 meetings with the Timberwolves.

Bryant scored 23 points while playing only 29 minutes against a team that has lost eight in a row. Pau Gasol added 21.

The Lakers had only a four-point lead with 10 minutes left in the third period, but ended the quarter with a 77-59 advantage.

Ryan Gomes led Minnesota with 20 points.