Lakers top Timberwolves in overtime
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Jordan Clarkson scored 20 points, including two free throws with less than a second left in overtime, to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 101-99 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.
The Lakers were able to win for the second time in three games when Clarkson pulled down the rebound after Andrew Wiggins blocked Wayne Ellington's layup. Zach LaVine pushed Clarkson from behind, and the latter drained both shots from the charity stripe.
"This might have been a little bit of a learning experience for Zach in that situation," Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jeremy Lin scored 19 off the bench and Ed Davis added 14 points and nine rebounds. Ryan Kelly and Tarik Black scored 11 apiece.
"We had a lot of good things that happened," Lakers acting coach Paul Pressey said.
Minnesota lost for the second time in three games despite 27 points on 8-of-16 shooting from Wiggins. Chase Budinger scored a season-high 22 and LaVine contributed 18.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Lakers led for much of the game, but Gorgui Dieng's layup at the midpoint of the fourth capped a 12-2 Minnesota run that briefly put the Timberwolves in front.
In the final minute, Los Angeles was up three when Black grabbed an offensive rebound. However, Dieng stole the ball before Black could be fouled, and Budinger hit the tying 3 at the other end. As time expired, Kelly missed an open look that would have given the Lakers the win in regulation.
Wiggins put Minnesota up two when he completed a three-point play with 2 1/2 minutes left in overtime. Clarkson tied the game with a pair of free throws and then his layup with 34 seconds to play gave Los Angeles a two-point edge.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}At the other end, LaVine missed an open 3, but Budinger got the rebound before Wiggins set up Dieng's jumper from the elbow that tied the game and set up Clarkson's free throws on the final possession.
Los Angeles' defense dominated the Timberwolves in the first quarter, limiting Minnesota to 6-of-19 shooting and forcing six turnovers. The Lakers led 24-15 after 12 minutes and held a 49-43 advantage at the break.
Lin scored seven points in the first three minutes of the third to help the Lakers extend their lead to 13. After a Minnesota timeout, LaVine scored the next five points, all from the free-throw line, to help the Timberwolves chip away at their deficit. Budinger's powerful dunk between Davis and Robert Sacre in the closing seconds cut the Los Angeles lead to 73-66 after three.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Game Notes
Byron Scott was away from the team to attend his mother's funeral ... The Timberwolves were without starters Ricky Rubio, Kevin Martin, Kevin Garnett and Nikola Pekovic due to injuries ... Los Angeles' Jabari Brown scored nine points on 3-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc.