Minnesota Timberwolves

Is it the end or a new beginning? It's all over ? oh, right, it never began ? in Minnesota, where reviled General Manager David Kahn gave away Al Jefferson , whereupon Coach Kurt Rambis began yo-yoing Kevin Love .... Or it's just starting, one or the other. Love played long enough to average 21 points and 17 rebounds over six games, including his 31-31 against the Knicks, before Friday's 0-7 against the Lakers. Meanwhile Michael Beasley , stolen from Miami for two No. 2 picks, averaged 31 points.

LAKERS TONIGHT VS. MINNESOTA When: 7:30. Where: Staples Center. On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 710, 1330. Records: Lakers 7-0, Minnesota 1-6. Record vs. Timberwolves (2009-10): 3-0. Update: It's been a slow start to Kurt Rambis' second season in Minnesota, where the Timberwolves became only the third team in 20 years to lose three of their first seven games by 25 or more points, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

Kevin Garnett had 12 points and 11 rebounds in his third game back in Minnesota since he was traded in 2007, helping the Boston Celtics remain undefeated with a 92-90 victory over the Timberwolves on Wednesday night. Rajon Rondo scored 14 of his 18 points in the third quarter for the Celtics. Minnesota had a chance to tie the score in the last 10 seconds of the game, but Garnett forced a jump ball with Corey Brewer to clinch the win. -- associated press

Ricky Rubio plans to part ways with Spanish basketball club DKV Joventut even if the Minnesota Timberwolves cannot reach a deal to bring their first-round draft pick to the NBA. Timberwolves President David Kahn was in Spain this week to try and help the fifth overall pick negotiate a buyout of his contract with Joventut. Rubio is at odds with his boyhood club over a buyout clause that could cost the 18-year-old point guard as much as $6.6 million.

A trade that brings the Minnesota Timberwolves the No. 5 overall pick in today's draft has been completed. The Timberwolves and Washington on Wednesday struck a deal that gives Minnesota its fourth first-round draft choice, along with Wizards forwards Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila and Oleksiy Pecherov. The Wizards receive guards Randy Foye and Mike Miller. Minnesota has the fifth, sixth, 18th and 28th selections in the draft.

Time: 7:30. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 710. Where: Staples Center. VS. MINNESOTA Records: Clippers 18-59, Timberwolves 22-55. Record vs. Timberwolves: 1-1. Update: Finally, a team almost as beat up and diminished as the Clippers, but not quite. Minnesota was missing four of its top six scorers in Sunday's one-sided loss to Denver. The Clippers?

Minnesota Timberwolves center Al Jefferson, who has emerged as one of the best post players in the NBA, will sit out the rest of the season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Coach Kevin McHale said Jefferson, averaging 23.1 points and 11 rebounds a game, probably will have surgery in the next week to 10 days. He was injured when he landed awkwardly late in Sunday's 101-97 loss to New Orleans.

The Clippers appear in need of a better healthcare plan these days, with nearly as many injured players in suits sitting behind the team bench as able-bodied players dressed for games. Missing three starters and four of their top six players against the resurgent Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday at Staples Center, there was little doubt as to the Clippers' plan of attack.

The Lakers finally revisited the concept of holding a team under 100, but there was a glaring omission of something equally important -- an offense. The Lakers sputtered and coughed their way to a 98-86 victory Sunday night over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center. They came in averaging a league-best 108.5 points a game, which, coupled with Minnesota's leaky defense -- 22nd in the league -- should have produced a bonanza of points. Not the case.