Timberwolves rout Lakers to even the NBA Western Conference finals 1-1

Latrell Sprewell of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday slam dunks in the first half of Game Two of the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. PHOTO: AFP

The re-energized Minnesota Timberwolves routed the lackluster Los Angeles Lakers 89-71 on Sunday to even the National Basketball Association Western Conference finals at one game apiece.

Kevin Garnett had 24 points and 11 rebounds for Minnesota and Darrick Martin came off the bench for the injured Sam Cassell and had 15 points and six assists without a turnover as the aggressive Timberwolves held the Lakers to a club playoff-low point total.

Latrell Sprewell added 16 points and eight assists for Minnesota, and with Cassell limited to just 43 seconds because of a bad back, Wally Szczerbiak played 39 minutes and had 16 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

Now the series shifts to Los Angeles for game three today at the Staples Center.

"All we've done now is make it a series," Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said. "This was a must-win game for us, no question."

Kobe Bryant had 27 points -- 14 in the first quarter -- and Shaquille O'Neal added 14 points and 16 rebounds, but no other Laker reached double figures as Los Angeles shot just 37 percent.

The game got testy in the fourth quarter, when seven technical fouls were called. Lakers forward Karl Malone, who managed just five points matched up against Garnett, was ejected with 2:31 remaining for knocking Martin to the floor with a hard shoulder.

"I don't think it was malicious," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "They were setting some bad picks and knocking down guys. We got tired of that stuff. I think Karl just stepped through the pick and was willing to take the consequences."

Said Malone: "That's exactly what I was doing."

Minnesota took the lead for good during a 9-0 run that opened an 18-11 advantage, held a 32-24 edge after one quarter and a 51-37 cushion at halftime.

Los Angeles climbed within 63-56 on a 3-pointer by Kareem Rush with 1:04 left in the third quarter, but Minnesota scored the final five points of the period and led by at least 11 points in the final 12 minutes.

"We had to find a way to play harder than LA," said Saunders, whose team neutralized O'Neal in the first half, holding him to just four points. Minnesota center Ervin Johnson, a non-factor in game one, had five points before the break and seven overall.