wolves/nba

Preview: The Wolves have the opportunity to wash away the memory of their 111-94 loss to the Lakers at Target Center on Dec. 20. Up 10 points entering the final quarter, the Wolves were outscored 34-7 in the fourth, with much of the damage done with Kobe Bryant on the bench. The Wolves are three games out of the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference and the Lakers are one of the teams they're chasing. The Wolves have lost three in a row and six of their past seven.

Players to watch: Bryant is second in the league in scoring (29.0), 18th in assists (5.6), and forward Brian Cook is coming off a 22-point, 14-rebound performance against Phoenix. Wolves guard Ricky Davis scored a season-high 35 points Sunday in Boston.

Numbers: The 94 points Davis (35), Kevin Garnett (33) and Troy Hudson (26) combined for Sunday tied for the second-highest total by three Wolves players in franchise history. The Wolves are 0-2 vs. the Lakers this season after going 3-1 against them last season.

Injuries: F Trenton Hassell and F Mark Madsen are doubtful; Hassell didn't do anything in practice. For the Lakers, F Lamar Odom (shoulder) and F Vladimir Radmanovic (shoulder) are out; Maurice Evans (knee) and Kwame Brown (ankle) are probable.

KENT YOUNGBLOOD