T’wolves lose again

LOS ANGELES—Starting with Kobe Bryant’s soaring dunk over Nikola Pekovic on their second possession, the L.A. Lakers jumped to a big lead against a woeful opponent and never fumbled it away while moving to the brink of a .500 record.
After the Lakers’ tumultuous season, such simple achievements qualify as serious progress toward a playoff spot.

Bryant scored 33 points and Antawn Jamison added 17 in the Lakers’ 116-94 win last night—their 21st-consecutive victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Lakers (29-30) have won 12-of-17 and five-of-seven to move within two games of Houston for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
This has been their longest stretch of solid play this season.
The Lakers haven’t lost to Minnesota since March 6, 2007.
Elsewhere in the NBA, the L.A. Clippers beat Indiana 99-91 and Chicago downed Philadelphia 93-82.