Los Angeles, CA (My Sportsbook) - The Los Angeles Lakers try to take the next step on the road back to the NBA title when they welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves to Staples Center for Game 6 of their best-of-seven series.

Los Angeles took a 3-2 lead in the series with a 120-90 thrashing of the Timberwolves on Tuesday night. Kobe Bryant led the way with 32 points and eight rebounds, while Shaquille O'Neal added 27 points and 11 boards. Derek Fisher made 5-of-7 from behind the arc en route to 24 points.

"That's the team I recognize," coach Phil Jackson said of his recently Jekyl- and-Hyde Lakers. "Moving the ball and limiting turnovers. We wanted to be sure we struck first and were aggressive."

Fisher took advantage of the wide open looks he was getting from a Minnesota team that was scrambling to account for Bryant and O'Neal.

"In the playoffs, our opponent's game plan has been to take things away from Shaq and Kobe," Fisher said. "But when we execute, shots open up for all of us."

Kevin Garnett finished with 25 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Wolves. Troy Hudson added 14 points to the losing effort. Minnesota could have used some more output from Wally Szczerbiak. Szczerbiak finished with nine points on 3-of-7 shooting from the field.

"They took it to us on both ends of the floor," Szczerbiak lamented.

The Lakers held a 44-36 edge on the glass and forced 17 Minnesota turnovers that resulted in 29 points for Los Angeles.

The Wolves, who lost in front of the largest crowd in their playoff history (20,098), are now 0-7 in any contests beyond Game 3. Minnesota is 2-6 all-time when facing elimination.

Minnesota is in the postseason for the seventh straight year but has never been able to escape the first round in the six previous tries while sporting a 5-18 record (7-20 including the new series) over that time.