Schedule and 2003 Results
Regular Season Records: Minnesota 51-31, Los Angeles 50-32
Game 1 on Sunday, 20 Apr: Los Angeles wins at Minnesota, 117-pts-98
Game 2 on Tuesday, 22 Apr: Los Angeles loses at Minnesota, 119-pts-91
Game 3 on Thursday, 24 Apr: Minnesota wins at Los Angeles, 114-pts-110 (OT)
Game 4 on Sunday, 27 Apr: Minnesota loses at Los Angeles, 102-pts-97
Game 5 on Tuesday, 29 Apr: Los Angeles wins at Minnesota, 120-pts-90
Game 6 on Thursday, 1 May: Minnesota loses at Los Angeles, 101-pts-85

SERIES NOTES:

After Game 6: The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 101-pts-85 in Game 6 of best-of-7 series 895, thus winning the series 4-games-2. The win order for the victorious Lakers -- WLLWWW -- is the 23rd in MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 series and the fourth in NBA best-of-7 series. The Los Angeles Lakers now have a best-of-7 series record of 52-23, while that for the Minnesota Timberwolves is now 0-1.

After Game 5: With MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 series 895 having returned to the Twin Cities for Game 5, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 120-pts-90 to take a 3-games-2 series 895 lead. When leading a best-of-7 NBA playoff series 3-games-2, the Los Angeles Lakers have a 21-3 series record.

After Game 4: The Los Angeles Lakers on their home court defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 102-pts-97 to even their MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 series 895 at 2-games-all. This series is the first-ever best-of-7 NBA playoff series for the Minnesota Timberwolves; when tied in a best-of-7 playoff series 2-games-all, the Los Angeles Lakers have a series record of 14-6.

After Game 3: With series 895 in California for Games 3 and 4, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 114-pts-110 in overtime, thus winning Game 3 and taking a 2-games-1 series lead after losing Game 1. This series is the first-ever best-of-7 NBA playoff series for the Minnesota Timberwolves; when trailing a best-of-7 playoff series 2-games-1, the Los Angeles Lakers have a series record of 4-14.

After Game 2: Rebounding from their Game 1 loss, the Minnesota Timberwolves on their home court won their first-ever best-of-7 playoff game, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 119-pts-91 to even MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 series 895 at 1-game-all. When tied 1-game-all in a best-of-7 NBA playoff series, the Los Angeles Lakers have a series record of 18-10 and are on a five-series winning streak. The margins of victory in the first two games of series 895 have been a combined 47 points -- the third largest such number in best-of-7 NBA playoff history for the first two games.

After Game 1: The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 117-pts-98 in Minnesota, thereby taking a 1-game-nil lead in best-of-7 series 895. This series is the first best-of-7 playoff series for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Los Angeles Lakers have a 43-7 series record when winning Game 1 of a best-of-7 NBA playoff series. The 19-point margin of victory by the Lakers was the largest in best-of-7 NBA playoff Game 1 history since MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 series 716, in which the Utah Jazz defeated the San Antonio Spurs 95-pts-75 in Game 1 of their 1996 NBA Quarterfinals series.

Pre-series assessment: In the 2002-03 regular season, the Minnesota Timberwolves finished one game ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers. From 1947 through 2002, when an NBA team led its best-of-7 playoff series opponent by one regular-season game, it has gone on to post an 11-10 best-of-7 series record against that opponent. MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 series 895 is the first best-of-7 playoff series for the Minnesota Timberwolves and the 75th for the Los Angeles Lakers. In best-of-7 playoff series, the Los Angeles Lakers have a 51-23 series record and a 50-24 Game 1 record.