MINNEAPOLIS -- Wally Szczerbiak knew a big game was necessary in order for his Timberwolves to beat the Lakers, but he was more worried about wearing down Kobe Bryant.

Mission accomplished.

Wally Szczerbiak torches the Lakers for 34 points.(AP)

"That was key," said Szczerbiak, who had 34 points and nine rebounds Friday night in Minnesota's 120-102 victory over Los Angeles -- a matchup of two of the West's top four teams.

Szczerbiak's All-Star opponent was impressed.

"He's a better basketball player than I thought," said Bryant, who scored 23 points.

Kevin Garnett had 23 of his 32 points in the first half along with nine rebounds and eight assists for the Timberwolves, who won their seventh straight.

Shaquille O'Neal had 29 points and seven rebounds for Los Angeles.

"If you're guarding Wally, you're going to have to work," said Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders. "He puts on a great amount of pressure. If you look at where we are in our conference and what Wally's done for us, there's no reason he shouldn't be an All-Star."

Moving from small forward to shooting guard this year, Szczerbiak has often had a size advantage over his foes and has been able to create more shots for himself. He was 10-for-17 from the field and 13-for-13 from the free-throw line for Minnesota, which made 30 of 32 foul shots and scored the most points against the Lakers this year.

"That was as nice a game as anyone played against us this year," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson. "I know Kobe was not pleased with his game. Szczerbiak got going early, and he tried to match, which sometimes takes some of (our players) out of their game."

The Timberwolves, 16-2 at home this year, moved a half-game ahead of San Antonio in first place in the Midwest Division with the Spurs' loss to Philadelphia.

The Lakers, who had won six in a row and their last four by an average of 25 points, never led and gave up 100 points or more for just the sixth time this year. They cut it to 91-86 early in the fourth quarter on a jumper by Devean George, but Minnesota went on a 13-3 run that made the score 104-89 with six minutes to go.

"That's about as good as you'll get," Saunders said. "This is the most aggressive we've been."

The Wolves, who shot 61 percent from the floor in the first half, withstood a 14-6 Lakers run in the second quarter that cut their lead to two. Minnesota responded with an 18-10 spurt over the final four minutes that made it 63-55 at the half.

The overflow crowd of 19,806 was into it early, cheering loudly whenever O'Neal or Bryant was called for a foul. Garnett had a 3-pointer and a dunk on consecutive possessions during Minnesota's half-closing run that got the crowd roaring.

"I wasn't going to try and let us lose," Szczerbiak said. "We just weren't going to die. The crowd didn't let us."

Felipe Lopez had 13 points, and Anthony Peeler 12 off the bench for the Timberwolves.

Gary Trent, Joe Smith's replacement in the Wolves' lineup, sprained his left ankle in the first quarter and didn't return. That meant a season-high 31 minutes for veteran Sam Mitchell, who added six points.

"That's why you try to keep yourself ready," Mitchell said. "You never know."

Lakers reserves had outscored their counterparts in each of the last four games.

"Our bench was the edge," Saunders said. "We kind of played how Minnesota people are. Whatever hand is dealt to you, you just go out and play."

Notes

• Smith said he wanted to play Friday night, but Saunders held him out for the seventh straight game because Smith hasn't practiced since bruising his left calf Dec. 28. Smith should return Tuesday against the Los Angeles Clippers.
• Starting point guard Terrell Brandon, who had arthroscopic knee surgery Dec. 20, will likely be out for another week or two.
• The Lakers lost to Minnesota for just the second time in their last 12 meetings.

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