(My Sportsbook) - The Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers showed the Timberwolves just what it takes to be a power in the Western Conference over the last few days. But Minnesota proved it isn't that far off.

The Timberwolves have dropped their last three games and are in the midst of their first losing streak since late January. Prior to the skid, Minnesota had won 13 of its previous 14 contests.

All three losses have come on the road for the T'wolves, who are currently on a five-game swing. Minnesota could struggle to claim just one victory on the trip, as it concludes with tough matchups in Phoenix and Dallas.

The Wolves started the losing streak by falling to the Seattle SuperSonics on Tuesday, 92-83. Minnesota ran into a red-hot Ray Allen, who totaled 29 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Minnesota followed that up with perhaps its most heart-breaking loss of the season -- a 96-95 overtime setback to the Sacramento Kings at ARCO Arena on Wednesday. Kevin Garnett, locked in a duel with counterpart Chris Webber, collected 27 points and 24 rebounds, but the Kings forward came up bigger in the extra session.

Most recently, the Wolves succumbed to Lakers and their dynamic duo, as LA came away with a 106-96 victory on Friday. Shaquille O'Neal scored 40 points on 16-of-25 shooting, grabbed 14 rebounds, dished out four assists and blocked five shots, while Kobe Bryant contributed 30 points and seven assists.

Bryant got the better of Garnett in what was supposed to be a duel between the league's top two MVP candidates. Garnett scored just 15 points on 6-of-17 shooting, but did collect 10 boards and six assists.

Rasho Nesterovic scored a team-high 19 points on 9-of-10 shooting before fouling out for Minnesota, which lost despite shooting 51 percent from the floor. The Wolves, who fell to the Lakers for the first time in three tries this year, committed 15 turnovers in the game, while forcing just five LA miscues.

Anthony Peeler chipped in 15 points and sank all three of his shots from beyond the arc. Wally Szczerbiak had 10 rebounds and five assists, but failed to scored in double figures (eight) for the second time in three games.

"We did not play well," Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said. "I don't think we came out with the energy we needed to early and once we tried to pick up energy mentally, we didn't do what we needed to do."

The Wolves' recent slide has dropped it to fifth in the Western Conference, one-half game behind the Portland Trail Blazers. Fortunately, the Blazers are also slipping, having dropped their last two contests.