The staple of the 2002-03 Timberwolves had been their resiliency ? an ability to rally from adversity, to withstand injury after injury, and to disprove critics en route to a franchise-record 51 victories and home-court advantage in the playoffs.

But in the end, the Wolves? seasonlong tenacity could not withstand the bulk of Shaquille O?Neal, the athleticism of Kobe Bryant and a Los Angeles Lakers team that showed it has a legitimate chance to win a fourth consecutive NBA championship.