The Timberwolves' late-season battles continued on two fronts Friday at Staples Center: the evening's spirited but eventual 104-96 loss to the defending NBA champion Lakers and Kevin Love's struggle with himself.

Clearly disheartened after his second three-point game in as many nights Wednesday at Utah, Love returned to his old double-double self on a Friday night when all of Hollywood's glitterati -- Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz (not together) as well as Jack, Leo and Giada, of course -- arrived to watch a Wolves team that now has lost 12 in a row.

The Wolves delivered easily their best effort on the final night of a four-game Western trip when they allowed 114 points at Sacramento, a franchise-record 152 at Phoenix and 122 at Utah.