Lakers oust T’Wolves, 96-90

? The Lakers love a little drama — and the NBA’s most entertaining show is headed back to the NBA Finals.

Shaquille O’Neal had 25 points and 11 rebounds, and Kareem Rush came from nowhere to hit six three-pointers in a 96-90 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals Monday night.

Kobe Bryant scored 20 points for the Lakers, who overcame Kevin Garnett, their constant bickering with the referees and O’Neal’s horrific 7-for-20 free-throw shooting to win the best-of-seven series.

Their fourth trip to the championship round in five seasons will begin Sunday. Detroit, leading the Eastern Conference finals 3-2, will visit Los Angeles if the Pistons finish off the Indiana Pacers tonight.

The Lakers improved to 9-0 at Staples Center in the postseason, but Garnett and the Timberwolves spent most of the game on the verge of an improbable upset.

Unbowed by the Lakers’ nine championship banners and intimidating home crowd, the Timberwolves played tight defense and made enough free throws to take a lead into the fourth quarter. But Bryant and Rush led a 15-6 run early in the quarter, and Slava Medvedenko added two critical baskets in the final minutes.

Karl Malone and Gary Payton, who signed with the Lakers last summer for a chance at their first NBA title, joined their teammates in a group hug near the bench before accepting the conference championship trophy.

Latrell Sprewell scored 27 points, and Garnett — who fouled out in the final minute — had 22 points and 17 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who nearly extended the best season in franchise history to a Game 7 in Minneapolis.

The Lakers' Kobe Bryant reacts late in Los Angeles' 96-90 victory over the Timberwolves. The victory Monday in Los Angeles sent the Lakers into the NBA Finals.

Instead, Minnesota’s first trip to the conference finals ended when it couldn’t score enough to overcome the absence of injured All-Star Sam Cassell. The Lakers stole Game 1 in Minneapolis and hung on for three home victories.

Bryant, O’Neal and Garnett all got in first-half foul trouble in a tightly officiated game. O’Neal sat on the bench for 41/2 minutes in the fourth quarter after picking up his fifth foul, and Malone also pickedup five fouls trying to stay with Garnett.

But Rush, the second-year guard who had 11 points in the entire series, made shot after shot from the perimeter.