LOS ANGELES, March 1 (UPI) -- Kobe Bryant led the way with 33 points Thursday and the Los Angeles Lakers steadily pulled away to defeat Minnesota 116-94.
The Lakers won for the fourth time in five games in their bid to earn a playoff berth. They are one game below the .500 mark and two games behind Houston for the eighth and final position in the race to make the postseason.
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Los Angeles hit 53 percent of its shots from the field and went 16-of-32 during a busy night from beyond the 3-point line. Bryant was 13-of-22 while playing 37 minutes.
Antawn Jamison added 17 for the Lakers and Jodie Meeks produced 16 off the bench.
The Timberwolves, who have lost four in a row, were paced by J.J. Barea with 22 points.
