LAKERS ARE REFUSING TO RELAX SHAQ HAS 33 IN MEANINGLESS BUT SATISFYING WIN LAKERS 101, MINNESOTA 95.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

As the bodies flew and the tension grew, the fans roared and Kobe Bryant soared, there was a chance someone might have mistaken the Lakers' Sunday-afternoon practice session for an actual, meaningful event.

It looked and sounded the part, with the Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves trading jabs and counterpunches right down to the final buzzer - every shot contested, every move shadowed, every possession and every second made to count.

So who says these guys have nothing to play for?

Although the Lakers are in fact just playing out the string, they are doing so at a high level, and at the expense of every other playofound team, this time snuffing out the Timberwolves 101-95 at Staples Center.

Minnesota was chasing San Antonio for the fifth seed in the West, a pursuit that may have ended here. The Lakers, who clinched the NBA's best record 11 days prior, are just enjoying a few last tune-ups before the playoffs.

This one was enjoyable and productive, a victory won with consistent offense - 33 points from Shaquille O'Neal, 25 from Bryant - and an impressive defensive stand in the final seconds.

``We had the kind of game I like to have this time of the year,'' coach Phil Jackson said. ``It's a good game, to have to take one out of the fire and win a game down the stretch is important, especially on our home court.''

In other words, the kind of game the Lakers (67-13) will need to know how to win once the games start to matter again.

``It was very good, because we haven't had a game like that in quite some time,'' Bryant said. ``So it was good for us going into the playoffs, for (the Timberwolves) to be playing a very big basketball game, hitting big shots, for us to pull this game out was big. . . .

``Mentally, knowing that you've been put in that situation once you go into the playoffs, because when you're put in that situation again, you go back to your memory bank and then recall certain execution things that you've done.''

When the Lakers do, they'll recall a riveting final sequence that closed out the game and gave the Lakers a season sweep of Minnesota.

The Lakers led 97-95 with seven seconds remaining when the Timberwolves' Wally Szczerbiak inbounded to Terrell Brandon in the right corner. Before Brandon could put up a shot, Bryant came flying in to blanket him, and Brandon forced a bad pass toward Joe Smith. Glen Rice stepped in for the steal, then hit two free throws to make it a four- point game with 4.2 seconds left.

``I was just in the right place at the right time,'' Rice said.

Minnesota's last hope faded when Szczerbiak's long inbounds pass from the baseline was also intercepted by Rice, who made two more free throws for the final margin.

``I've been telling a lot of people that I'm trying to become a defensive specialist,'' Rice said with a smile. ``To do it in that manner really means a lot. It really tells us that down the stretch, regardless of the situation, we're going to keep fighting until the end, and that's what we did.''

O'Neal also grabbed 14 rebounds and dished out eight assists to fall just shy of a triple-double. Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett struggled, hitting 6 of 19 shots for 15 points.

The lead changed hands 10 times in the second half, the score was tied 14 times and the Lakers actually trailed by four with 2:48 left. But O'Neal pushed the Lakers ahead with a 3-point play and a dunk fed by Bryant. The Lakers went ahead for good on a pair of free throws by Bryant with seven seconds left.

All the Lakers have left to aim for is 69 wins, a mark that would match the best record in franchise history. But they are more concerned with simply maintaining momentum.

``If we lost this game today it would have been a letdown,'' Rice said. ``We don't have any business losing to this team. We want to finish strong, and today was a good test for us.''

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Photo: Shaquille O'Neal and Minnesota's Anthony Peeler go for a rebound during the Lakers' hard-earned win at Staples Center.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer

Chart: GAME RECAP