Kobe Bryant top scored with 31 points while Shaquille O'Neal grabbed 19 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers comfortably defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 92-85 in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals.
The Lakers lead the best-of-seven series 3-1 and could book their place in the NBA Finals against either the Detroit Pistons or the Indiana Pacers if they win the next game in Minneapolis today.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Minnesota started strongly, scoring the game's first five points, and held a lead until half-way through the second quarter when a spectacular dunk from the Lakers Devean George gave his team a 36-35 edge, a lead they never lost.
Bryant arrived shortly before the tip-off after making a 1,440km journey from Colorado where he had attending court proceedings earlier in the day related to charges he raped a 19-year-old woman. Bryant has pleaded not guilty.
"He [Bryant] is obviously going through a lot but he comes to work focused, he plays hard. A fabulous player," O'Neal said about his team mate after the game.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Bryant's competitiveness helped him to perform under difficult conditions.
"He [Bryant] knows he is under duress and he marshals more energy ... that is his competitive nature," Jackson said.
Bryant will not have to attend any more court hearings during the playoffs.
"Today he [Bryant] was not in a very talkative mood but you could tell he was focused. He just looked over and gave a wink like he was ready and once again he came up large for us," Lakers forward Karl Malone said. "Personally I am glad that [the court proceeding] is over with right now."
"We're playing real aggressive, having some fun and just getting closer to our mission," the giant Lakers center said.
For Minnesota, league MVP Kevin Garnett top scored with 28 points.
"We're in a back against the wall situation," Garnett said.
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