LAKERS BARK, BITE WOLVES SHAQ HOWLS, L.A. ON PROWL WITH 2-1 LEAD S.

Byline: HOWARD BECK STAFF WRITER

The Lakers asserted their authority again Tuesday, on an evening that was by turns strange and enjoyable, with everyone contributing, Shaquille O'Neal woofing, Flip Saunders complaining and finally, with the series firmly under control, Kobe Bryant giddily making jokes about ``sabotaging'' the game.

So in the end, it was strange again.

The Lakers survived Hack-a-Shaq and an unexpected Sam Cassell resurrection, pushed Kevin Garnett into fouling out, shot 43 free throws and strong-armed their way to a 100-89 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center.

They lead the Western Conference finals 2-1, no longer angry but confident. Game 4 is Thursday at Staples Center, where they are undefeated in seven playoff games.

``I feel we can play a little bit better,'' O'Neal said. ``I feel we were erratic at times, playing a wild style of basketball.''

For the first time in 14 playoff games, all five Lakers starters scored in double figures, Bryant and O'Neal leading the way with 22 points each. Gary Payton attacked the ailing Cassell early and finished with 18 points and nine assists, easily his best game of the series.

Devean George scored 12 points. Karl Malone scored 11 points and effectively annoyed Garnett for most of the night. Garnett got 22 points on 21 shots before fouling out in the final minute. The Wolves' star had gone nearly foul-free for two games in Minneapolis, a statistical oddity noted by the Lakers, and Saunders found the extreme pendulum swing irksome.

``I think it's very ironic that all of a sudden in 42 minutes, Kevin has six fouls where in two games he's got two fouls,'' the Wolves coach said.

After both teams spent a couple of days debating aggression and physicality and rough play, the Lakers drew all the benefits of an attacking offense. They shot 43 free throws and made 25, with O'Neal going 8 for 22. Garnett shot just four free throws, and the Wolves 14, another sore point to Saunders.

Minnesota got 18 points each from Latrell Sprewell and Cassell, the latter playing 26 minutes before again surrendering to a tight back in the fourth quarter. Cassell played just 43 seconds in Game 2, but gained some mobility over what amounted to nearly a four-day break and was effective early.

Among other statistical curiosities, particularly for the conspiratorial at heart, was Bryant's first-half line: zero points, 0 for 2 from the field. Only a month ago, Bryant turned in a similarly light statistical line in a critical regular-season game at Sacramento, leading to uncomfortable questions about his mindset and perceptions that he was playing passively in response to criticism of his shot selection the prior week.

He boycotted the media for a week and a half, save for one radio interview in which he angrily denied implications he had intentionally tanked the game.

This time, the misperceptions came from coach Phil Jackson, who thought Bryant's quiet half was because of an injury. Bryant did mildly sprain his left ankle, but it was inconsequential - ``not even worth reporting.'' But he was more than eager to address the matter of his modest offensive effort.

With a knit cap pulled down and a mischievous smile on his face before the question was half-asked, Bryant seized the moment.

``I was sabotaging the game, man. Come on,'' he said, chuckling along with a room full of reporters. ``They did a good job defensively. They were just crowding me and trapping me every time I came off pick-and-rolls or I was in transition. And we were playing so well as a team, everybody was contributing, we had a nice lead, there's really no reason for me to try to push through it or force shots or whatever.

``Second half, they looked to stop everybody else, then I got going, I picked up the momentum and was able to break the game open.''

Bryant hit back-to-back 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter as the Lakers blew open the game, from a six-point lead to 91-74 with 4:44 left to play.

Minnesota got a pair of 3-pointers from Sprewell, another from Garnett and a fastbreak layup by Sprewell, to knock the lead down to eight points over the next two minutes. From there, Saunders ordered the Hack-a-Shaq. Former Lakers forward Mark Madsen bear-hugged O'Neal twice, and O'Neal made 2 of 4 free throws. He slapped at him a third time as O'Neal hollered at referee Dan Crawford to call the foul, to no avail.

``Mark's sitting there telling the dude he's trying to foul me, but he didn't call it,'' O'Neal said.

As he checked out of the game, with 36.2 seconds left, O'Neal turned and woofed his displeasure at Saunders.

``I'm not going to miss them all,'' O'Neal said later. ``It's not going to work.''

Howard Beck, [phone]

howard.beck(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

14 photos, 4 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color) Gary Payton had his best game of the Western Conference finals Tuesday, with 18 points and nine assists to help the Lakers take a 2-1 lead in their series with the Timberwolves.

David Sprague/Associated Press

(2) Kobe Bryant directs traffic Tuesday, as the Wolves' Fred Hoiberg defends, en route to a 22-point effort for the Lakers. His entire output came in the second half.

Steven Georges/Staff Photographer

(3) KOBE BRYANT

(4) GARY PAYTON

(5) SHAQUILLE O'NEAL

(6) KARL MALONE

(7) DEVEAN GEORGE

(8) DEREK FISHER

(9) TRENTON HASSELL

(10) SAM CASSELL

(11) ERVIN JOHNSON

(12) KEVIN GARNETT

(13) LATRELL SPREWELL

(14) WALLY SZCZERBIAK

Box:

(1) A CLOSER LOOK: GAME 3

By Lauren Gustus

(2) REPORT CARD

(3) LAKERS vs. TIMBERWOLVES: Lakers lead best-of-seven series 2-1

(4) STORY LINES