Kobe Bryant has scored at least 50 points in three straight games, sinking two free throws at the 8:08 mark of the fourth quarter against Memphis to give him the honor.

Hitting form at the right time, Bryant has followed up on a 65 point performance against Portland on March 16 with 50 points against the Timberwolves two nights later, and now 60 against the Grizzlies on Thursday night, with the Lakers winning all three games.

The Lakers currently hold the seventh seed in the West.

After several weeks of rumors and speculation, it appears official that Flip Saunders will not end up coaching the University of Minnesota.

University of Minnesota officials have been told privately by people close to Saunders' representatives that he is not a candidate for the Gophers' job and that the university should go in another direction.

Kevin Garnett recently purchased a house in Orono, Minnesota for $6.45 million, according to Hennepin County property records.

"In all honesty, if he could play his (entire) career there, that's what he'd want to do. I really believe that," head coach Randy Wittman said. "Does that (purchase) surprise me? No.

"He's been there what, 10 years? Any time you're in one place 10 years, it does become a little like home, whether you call it home or not. You're there at least nine months out of the year. So you're spending the majority of your time in one place, even though he's got a place in L.A. that he might consider home. But you're spending the majority of the time in Minnesota."

Kobe Bryant became the first Lakers player with consecutive 50-point games in 44 seasons, following a 65-point game with 50 against Minnesota on Sunday night in Los Angeles' 109-102 victory over the Timberwolves.

The last time a Lakers player scored 50 or more points in consecutive games was in December 1962, when Elgin Baylor reached that figure in three straight contests -- including a home-and-home set against the, then, San Francisco Warriors.

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said the team will surely insist on arbitration before they pay any money to suspended player Eddie Griffin, who was waived by the team and will released if he goes unclaimed.

Kevin McHale has made it clear Randy Wittman will return as head coach of the Timberwolves next season. Owner Glen Taylor previously had pledged his support of the coach.

And Wittman has the endorsement of Wolves superstar Kevin Garnett.

"I think Randy's done a real good job, you know, dealing with the head cases and the things that we have on this team," Garnett said. "We have a very competitive group, a young team, and you know, sometimes that's not the easiest thing to do.

"You have teaching, and you only have so much time to get certain things in, implemented in your system and certain things, man, it's not easy. But he's done a very good job of being headstrong and being very vocal and being up front with a lot of guys, and I think in return ... it's gotten his respect."

Former seventh overall draft pick, Eddie Griffin, was waived on Tuesday.

Griffin has battled alcohol problems since coming out of Seton Hall. He was suspended by the league for five games in January for violating the anti-drug program.

?It was time for both parties ? Eddie and the Timberwolves ? to move on,? Wolves vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale said in a statement. ?It just didn't work out for Eddie here in Minnesota."

The Timberwolves will get backup post player Mark Madsen back before they face Shaquille O'Neal and the Heat on Friday night.

Madsen has missed the last six games because of a sprained left ankle, but he said after Thursday's practice that he's ready to return.

Timberwolves defensive stopper Trenton Hassell missed Tuesday night's game against the Lakers with a sprained left ankle.

Hassell injured the ankle early in the first quarter against Boston on Sunday, and it hadn't improved enough by Tuesday to chase around Kobe Bryant.