Coach Phil Jackson wasn't out of line last weekend when, sizing up the Timberwolves, he claimed to see "fear in their eyes."

Like it or not, there have been times -- in losing 15 in a row on the Los Angeles Lakers' floor dating back to 1993, in getting pounded inside by Shaquille O'Neal with no cavalry or firemen in sight -- when one or more Wolves players gladly would have slipped out a back door with time left on the game clock. Word is, a whisper of "Dyan Cannon" can cause shivers, and certain Wolves past or present can't watch a Jack Nicholson movie without breaking into a cold sweat.

So Jackson's facts weren't necessarily off. But his timing was.

The Wolves left their fear in the locker room -- if it was there anymore, anyway -- and beat the Los Angeles Lakers 112-101 Wednesday night at sold-out, snarling Target Center.