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 Point guard Ricky Rubio scored a career-high 28 points and handed
out 14 assists as the Timberwolves held on for an emotional 112-111
victory over the Lakers on at Staples Center.
The win came two days after Saunders, Minnesota's president and head
coach, passed from complications of Hodgkin's lymphoma.
"Everybody went through a lot pain but we came in here and (fought),
competed and tried to win a game," said Rubio, who made 10 of 17
shots from the floor. "I think the second unit did pretty good in
the third quarter coming back. The defense, too. That started
everything. Our defense was the key today."
Reserve guard Kevin Martin added 23 points for Minnesota (1-0),
which rallied from a 16-point first-half deficit to capture the
decision.
"It's been a tough three days for our whole team," said Martin, who
scored 17 of his points in the second half. "I think we showed what
our character is tonight. That was like one of the sweetest wins
I've ever been a part of."
Rookie center and top draft pick Karl-Anthony Towns debuted with 14
points and 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves.
"I got a little more aggressive as the game went along. I was just
happy I was able to contribute to the team's success," said Towns,
who hit six of 10 shots. "It's amazing with how our week has gone."
Lakers guard Lou Williams missed a potential game-winning shot just
before the final horn, allowing the Timberwolves to prevail.
"It was a great shot," said Lakers forward Kobe Bryant, who finished
with a team-high 24 points. "It was Lou's shot. It just didn't go
in."
Bryant kicked off his NBA-record 20th campaign by scoring 24 points
to lead the Lakers (0-1). Bryant, who surpassed former Utah Jazz
point guard John Stockton's mark of 19 consecutive seasons with the
same club, managed just 8-of-24 shooting and missed 10 of 13 3-point
attempts.
"I felt good but my shots didn't go in in the fourth quarter," said
Bryant who missed all five attempts in the final period and made
just 2-of-11 overall in the second half. "My timing will come back
but I felt good."
Williams scored 21 points, forward Julius Randle had 15 and guards
Nick Young, who converted a 41-foot 3-pointer to end the first
quarter, and Jordan Clarkson finished with 14 apiece.
"We just got to put our foot down and bring that killer instinct,"
Clarkson said.
Rubio gave the Timberwolves the lead at 101-99 on a jumper with 6:11
remaining, capping a 19-6 surge. After a free throw by guard Andrew
Wiggins, Clarkson's bucket pulled Los Angeles within one. Minnesota
increased its cushion to nine points after a 3-pointer by forward
Nemanja Bjelica with 2:13 left but the Lakers rallied.
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A free throw by Clarkson with a minute left cut the deficit to
112-108 before Williams buried a 3-pointer with 31.6 seconds to
slice the margin to one.
After Martin misfired on a jumper with 8.6 seconds remaining, the
Lakers called timeout on their final possession. Williams, though,
couldn't convert a runner in the lane.
"When I let it go, I thought it was a bucket," Williams said. "It's
a routine play for me -- three or four feet from the rim, float it
over a seven-footer. I thought it was a good shot."
Forward Shabazz Muhammad was the only other Minnesota player to
score in double figures with 10 points.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver attended the game and spoke to the
Timberwolves in their locker room before the contest.
NOTES: Interim coach Sam Mitchell said he was trying to keep his
club focused after the death of Timberwolves president and coach
Flip Saunders. "Coach loved this game. He played it, coached it on
all levels and he loved it," Mitchell said. "The best way to honor
him is to just play as hard as you can and play as a team. The rest
will take care of itself." ... Both clubs shot well from the
free-throw line, with the Lakers converting 32-of-35 attempts (91.4
percent) to 31-of-37 (83.8 pecent) for the Timberwolves. Lakers C
Roy Hibbert hit all 10 of his free throws. ... This is the first
time in the common draft era (since 1966) that the No. 1
(Timberwolves C Karl-Anthony Towns) and No. 2 picks (Lakers G
D'Angelo Russell) met in a regular-season opener, according to the
Elias Sports Bureau. ... Both teams resume play Friday. The
Timberwolves visit the Denver Nuggets, while the Lakers travel to
Sacramento to play the Kings.
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