Sam Cassell has been injured with torn cartilege in his left hip. It may require surgery in the offseason, and "it is unlikely the injured veteran will play again this spring."

'Cassell's back spasms are due to the trauma in the hip, the medical staffer said, and rest and rehabilitation might be enough to fix the problem. It isn't impossible that Cassell could try to play again on the damaged hip.

But Cassell even raised a white flag of sorts Sunday, saying he definitely would not play in Game 6 tonight. And after that? "Let's get through tomorrow first," said Cassell, 34. "Anything's possible. I'm just day to day right now. It's me understanding the situation and making the right decision."'

So Cassell is probably out for the rest of the season. How long the rest of the season is for his team is the big question.

Sam Cassell will be out for the second straigh game with back spasms and a hip injury.  Oddly enough the Timberwolves have won the games that Cassell has played thirty second or less.  However, both games were home games for the Timberwolves.

``It's killing me, personally, knowing what I can do for us against the Lakers,'' Cassell said Sunday.

Fred Hoiberg will be the point guard in the absence of Cassell.  The Lakers lead the series 3-2.  Game 6 in is Los Angeles.

Lately, Michael Olowokandi has been racking up foul calls faster than Kobe Bryant is accruing frequent flier miles.  

Olowokandi was productive in 33 minutes in the series opener:  10 points, 11 rebounds, 4 fouls.  

But he logged just 33 minutes total in Games 2, 3 and 4:  0 points, 6 rebounds, 13 fouls.  That?s an average of one foul every two minutes and thirty-two seconds.

So enough was enough.  Wolves coach Flip Saunders angrily disputed the unfair treatment of his big center in Game 5 and got hit with a technical foul.

And just when it seemed that everything was going against the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Candy Man in Game 5 ? with the Lakers making a strong push to come all the way back and take the series ? the referees called Shaqille O?Neal for a three-second violation on a crucial possession that turned the tide of the game back in the Wolves? favor.  Fred Hoiberg hit a big three-point shot on the Wolves? ensuing possession and the game was in the W column.

Olowokandi tallied 7 rebounds and 2 blocked shots in Game 5.  He will start at center again in Game 6.

Kevin Garnett came up big with 30 points and 19 rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves survived for another game with a 98-96 victory over Los Angeles in Game 5 Saturday night. Garnett also hit five free throws in the final 2:04 as Minnesota held on to a small lead. Derek Fisher hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to make the final score close.

"We know we play well at home," Garnett said. "That's where we have a lot of confidence. We came out with energy and forced the action."

Latrell Sprewell scored 28 points and Fred Hoiberg added 14 for the Timberwolves, who prevented the Lakers from winning a potential series-ending game for the first time since Game 5 of the 2000 NBA Finals.

It was a strange game all around for the Lakers, who were extraordinarily loose before the game -- coach Phil Jackson even said his team was "giddy."

Only seven teams in NBA history have recovered from a 3-1 deficit to win a playoff series, and the Lakers have never blown such a lead.

Injured All-Star Sam Cassell didn't suit up for the Timberwolves.

Minnesota's final game may be Saturday but once again star point guard Sam Cassell will be a game-time decision.

Coach Flip Saunders said Friday there was nothing new to report and that he would know right before Saturday night's tipoff whether Cassell can play.

``I'm going to come to the arena ... and prepare like I'm going to play,'' Cassell said. ``I'm here for my team. It's frustrating for me, because I know if I'm healthy I like our chances, man.''

The Pacers guards will have to do something to neutralize Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton, whose play has been the motor that makes the Pistons go in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Entering tonight?s Game 4 at The Palace of Auburn Hills, Billups and Hamilton have had the decisive advantage over Jamaal Tinsley and Reggie Miller.  

Billups and Hamilton are averaging 34.7 points, 9.7 assists and 8.3 rebounds while the Pacers? backcourt is at 19.7 points, 5.3 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 33.3-percent for the series.

This is the key factor in the Pistons 2-1 lead in the series.

The Los Angeles Lakers moved to the brink of returning to the NBA Finals with a 92-85 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the teams? best-of-seven Western Conference Finals series.  

The Lakers held serve on their home Staples Center floor with two consecutive wins and are now up 3-1 in the series.  The series will now shift back to Minnesota with the Wolves trying to stay alive and the Lakers on the verge of returning to the NBA Finals.

After flying to Eagle, Colorado for a court hearing in the rape trial against him, Kobe Bryant flew back to Los Angeles in time for the start of Game 4.  Bryant sparked his team with 18 points in the third quarter and the Lakers were in control of the game.

"My energy level was good," Bryant said after his 31 point, 8 rebound night. "You never know what can happen in a playoff situation. That's why whenever you have an opportunity to close a team out, you have to take advantage of it and take care of business."

Shaquille O?Neal helped the Lakers control the boards and dominate the point, pulling down 19 rebounds and scoring 19 points.

Kevin Garnett turned in a near triple-double with 28 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists.  Karl Malone did as well with 12, 11 and 8.  

Garnett felt the officiating favored the Lakers, particularly when the Wolves took the ball hard to the basket.   Even though O?Neal was making contact with drivers, the Wolves did not hear too many whistles.  "I was saying to myself, it seems like we're playing against eight people tonight," said Garnett in reference to the five Lakers and three officials. "I feel like you've got to put the officials in position to make calls and I feel like we did that. They didn't make the calls, and when that happens you feel like you're playing against eight people."

Game 5 is Saturday in the Target Center.

Once again, the Lakers are coming together just in time.  

Discontent, question marks and strife have suddenly disappeared.

Even the Shaq ? Kobe feud is nowhere to be found.

Karl Malone was protective of Bryant while Gary Payton praised him.  Both spoke in glowing terms about the star guard, who was the topic of conversation again because he will have to fly to Eagle, Colorado on Thursday morning for a hearing in the criminal case against him, then fly back for Game 4 in Los Angeles.  

Bryant may have to miss the first half of the game because of the early 6 p.m. start time.

"When I get here, if I get back in time, I'm just going to be ready to play," Bryant said.

Sam Cassell sat out practice and then said that whether or not he will play in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals is a "game-time decision."

"I don't have the ability to curb Mother Nature,? Cassell told the media.

Cassell?s had a slow start in Game 3 with his injuries bothering him.  The result?  Gary Payton took full advantage, getting anywhere he pleased on the court and getting himself and his team off to a fast start.

After Wednesday's workout, head coach Flip Saunders implied Cassell should not play.

"Sam has to be more mobile to play defense," Saunders said. "If you have someone even 80 percent, [the Lakers] are going to take advantage and go at him."

The Minnesota Timberwolves? defensive intensity needs a jumpstart.  From Game 1 to Game 2, the Los Angeles Lakers went from tying a franchise playoff low in points to shooting 51.5 percent in a 100-89 win.

Clearly the Lakers were more intense at home and Shaquille O?Neal was a force in the paint. And did the injury to Sam Cassell caused further problems for the Wolves? defense.

But the Wolves themselves think they must step up the defensive energy.  

This includes their coach of course.  "We were more into them in Game 2," Flip Saunders said. "We were able to force their offense out a little bit more. Game 3, they got the ball more in their areas."