Lakers clinch playoff birth.

By: Brandon Vondera

Los Angeles, Ca

At Staples Center in Los Angeles before an A-list audience (Hollywood players Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Jack Nicholson were all perched courtside) the Lakers improved to 51-18. By pulling away late from the Curt Rambis coached, Minnesota Timberwolves, LA set aside all concerns after Darko Milicic tied the game at 66 in the third. The Lakers thrusting aside of the T-Wolves was just the latest calamity for the latter, dive-bombing steeper yet in their latest 12-game losing streak.

Kobe Bryant led with a game-high 22 points and 13 dimes, as the Lakers closed out the Wolves with a 104-96 victory -- their tenth straight over Minnesota.

Pau Gasol playing with the passion of a Spaniard as of late snatched 14 rebounds, and injected 17 points into the Lakers offensive effort. Subsequently seeing firsthand that his fellow big men shot well, a combined 11 for 18 from the field, Lamar Odom acted as the spark that lit the Lakers flame in the fourth quarter. LO finished with 11 of his 18 points in the final period, also making 4 of six shots from beyond the arc in 26 minutes off the bench.

Unfortunately for the Los Angeles coaching staff and fan-base alike, the real news came in the third quarter when Andrew Bynum limped out of the game. The early verdict was a left achilles sprain, coming after the Lakers big was able to walk off the court under his own power. LA coach Phil Jackson looked burdened when he spoke of his young center's injury after the game.

"We're a little concerned, he'll probably miss a little while," said Jackson. "We'll have to use our practice tomorrow to reassess how we're going to play without Andrew for a little bit here."

Next up for the Lakers will be a 6:30 appointment with the Gilbert Arenas-less Wizards on Sunday. Fans attending the game should leave extra time to arrive to the stadium as the streets of Los Angeles will be finally putting themselves back together following the 24th running of the Los Angeles Marathon. It will be the first race with a new course beginning at Dodger Stadium and finishing at the Santa Monica pier.