LOS ANGELES, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Shaquille O'Neal had 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists and Kobe Bryant added 18 and five assists Saturday night as the Los angeles Lakers dismantled the Minnesota Timberwolves, 102-76.
Neither Bryant nor O'Neal played in the fourth quarter after helping decide matters in the third period. Los Angeles trailed, 53-51, with 9:01 remaining before O'Neal started a 10-0 run with a five-foot hook shot. Bryant hit a pair of free throws to give the Lakers the lead for good.
Lindsey Hunter added two three-pointers during the run and scored 11 of his 13 points during the third quarter. The Lakers led 77-62 entering the final period and the rout was on.
The win was the Lakers' eighth in a row since losing to Phoenix on Nov. 16, their only defeat of the season. Including last season's playoffs, the Lakers are 38-2 since a home loss to New York on April 1.
Wally Szczerbiak had 19 points and eight rebounds for Minnesota (10-5), which went 0-3 on its road trip. Kevin Garnett added 11 and 14 but made just five of 18 shots and is shooting just under 37 percent over his last five games.
