Pau Gasol scored 25 points as the host Los Angeles Lakers struggled to put away Minnesota 106-98 on Friday for their 15th straight victory over the Timberwolves.

Kobe Bryant, who is nursing a sprained ankle, scored all of his 18 points in the final 25 minutes. He hit his last two shots of the second quarter - both 3-pointers - after missing his first six shots. He finished 6 for 17 from the field in 28 minutes.

Gasol started an 8-0 run with 3:34 to go which put the Lakers ahead for good. He finished 12 of 17 from the field and is averaging 21.5 points in his last four games.

The Lakers (49-20) improved to 11-1 since the All-Star break.

Wesley Johnson scored a career-high 29 points, and Kevin Love had 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Timberwolves (17-53), who fell to 5-30 on the road and 6-45 when their opponent reaches 100 points.

The Lakers finished the third quarter with a 7-0 run - the last five points by Bryant - to take a 78-74 lead.

The Lakers' Andrew Bynum (14 rebounds) was ejected with 6:16 to go after a flagrant foul on Michael Beasley, who made both free throws to put the Timberwolves back in front 89-88. Beasley bruised his hip after landing hard on the floor and did not return.

Love had 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Johnson had 17 points on 6-for-8 shooting in the first half as the Timberwolves took a 51-49 lead.