The Timberwolves are awfully lucky they didn't trade Wally Szczerbiak during the offseason.

Kevin McHale, vice president of basketball operations, said the Wolves never came close to the deal, but Szczerbiak was shopped around.

Now the combination of Szczerbiak and Kevin Garnett is second-best in the NBA after the Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.

When the Wolves beat the Lakers 120-102 on Friday night at Target Center, Szczerbiak and Garnett outscored the Lakers' duo 66-42.

The Timberwolves then won their eighth consecutive game on Saturday night, beating Washington 108-100 on the road. Garnett had 31 points, seven rebounds and six assists on Saturday after getting 32, nine and eight against the Lakers.

Szczerbiak, who scored 16 against the Wizards on Saturday, outscored Bryant 34-23 on Friday night and got Kobe to say he didn't realize Wally was that good.