Love leads Wolves against Lakers

(SportsNetwork.com) - Kevin Love and the Minnesota Timberwolves still have an outside shot at making the playoff race interesting, but must stay on the winning side of things with 12 games to go.

The Timberwolves will continue their push toward the postseason when they host the Los Angeles Lakers Friday at Target Center. The T'Wolves are 7 1/2 games off the eighth spot in the Western Conference and ended a three-game losing streak with Wednesday's 107-83 bashing of the Atlanta Hawks.

Love had 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Gorgui Dieng scored 15 with 15 boards for Minnesota, which shot 50 percent overall and went 9-of-22 from 3- point range. Corey Brewer and Kevin Martin scored 18 points apiece to held the Wolves back into the win column.

Minnesota won every quarter with 20 or more points.

"I thought we responded pretty well, especially in the second half," said Minnesota coach Rick Adelman. "Both teams struggled the first half in scoring; they did especially. But overall, I thought it was a good effort."

The T'Wolves have a 20-14 home record this season.

Los Angeles reverted back to its losing ways with a 108-105 decision at Milwaukee Thursday night, as Jordan Hill paced the visitors with 28 points and 16 rebounds.

Nick Young and Chris Kaman scored 17 and 13 points, respectively, for the Lakers, who had won two in a row prior to a four-game slide.

Milwaukee was able to stop an eight-game losing streak.

"This is the NBA where anyone can win on any night," Young said.

The Lakers have lost four in a row on the road, have an 11-25 record as the visitor and will start a two-game homestand Sunday versus Phoenix and Portland.

The Wolves are 2-1 against the Lakers this season and won the last meeting at Target Center by a 109-99 score on Feb. 4. The Lakers are still 26-3 in the previous 29 matchups with Minnesota, but that was with a healthy Kobe Bryant.

The Lakers could be without Pau Gasol (illness) and Steve Nash (back) in Friday's tilt with the Wolves, losers in 12 of the last 14 games as the host in this series.