Well, it was more than three months ago when Love went scoreless Nov. 19 vs. the Lakers, who returned to Target Center on Tuesday for the first time since Lamar Odom vexed Love so.

Ten days before that scoreless game, Love had 23 points and 24 rebounds against the Lakers in Los Angeles.

"It's weird, it just happened like that," Love said. "I have no idea why, just polar opposite games. Sometimes things happen for you, and sometimes not so much the next time against the same team."

Love scored the first two points to ensure he wouldn't have another scoreless game and reached a 47th consecutive double-double in the third quarter. He was mostly matched against Andrew Bynum, who was injured in November, rather than Odom.

"He gets a lot of numbers," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who wondered how Love got invited to the All-Star Game over Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge while playing for the Western Conference's worst team. "He's a guy that really goes after rebounds, gets all the missed free throws and the ones at the end of quarters. He gets a lot of numbers. It's quite significant."

Bye-bye, EddyThe Wolves reached a contract buyout with Eddy Curry, the always-injured center whose contract they acquired from New York last week in the trade that also brought them Anthony Randolph. By waiving him before midnight Tuesday, Curry now can sign with a team in time for the playoffs if anybody is interested.

Meanwhile, the Knicks waived Corey Brewer, acquired from the Wolves, while signing Jared Jeffries and claiming Derrick Brown off waivers.

Fare thee well?If this is really Jackson's final year of coaching -- as he says it is -- then he worked the Target Center sideline for the final time Tuesday (playoffs notwithstanding, of course).

Asked whether he believed this really is it for his friend and mentor, Wolves coach Kurt Rambis said, "It is for next year, yes, I believe that," implying perhaps that Jackson could return after a season away. Jackson has stepped away once before from the Lakers bench, for a season.

Somebody asked Rambis what he learned most from a guy who has coached his teams to a record 11 NBA titles.

"Just learning how to manage players and egos and making sure players are in a system where they're playing basketball the same way," he said. "Players have a different mindset and view the way the game should be played. "

Etc.• Wolves guard Martell Webster missed his fourth consecutive game because of a bad back that has bothered him since he needed October surgery. He was not expected to accompany the team to Detroit for Wednesday's game there, but Rambis suggested he might join the team later in the three-game trip.

• The Wolves launched their "More" new season ticket sales campaign for the 2011-12 season, offering lower-level seats for as little as $15 through April 13.