Minnesota Timberwolves Set Records Galore in 36-Point Blasting of LA Lakers

It almost feels unfair to pick on the Los Angeles Lakers at this point in the season, but Friday night's effort against the Minnesota Timberwolves redefined the meaning of defensive futility. 

Matched up against the league's fourth-highest-scoring offense, Mike D'Antoni's defense crumbled as the Purple and Gold were trounced, 143-107, by Kevin Love and the Timberwolves. 

"I thought we had a total breakdown ... I would say (the players are) demoralized," D'Antoni told reporters following the loss, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. 

In the rout, the Timberwolves set several franchise records, including the single-game scoring mark: 

To add insult to injury, Kevin Love dropped a triple-double consisting of 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in just 29 minutes, which was yet another Timberwolves first: 

In fact, the feat was so rare that Love became just the 25th player since 1985-86 to record a triple-double (consisting of points, rebounds and assists) in 29 minutes or less, according to Basketball-Reference.

Love also joined Russell Westbrook, Jeremy Lin and Stephen Curry as the fourth player to accomplish the feat this season, per Basketball-Reference.  

As a team, the Timberwolves shot 67.1 percent from field, a figure that will also be etched into Minnesota's record books: 

Of course, the 2013-14 Lakers are no strangers to embarrassment.

Back on March 6, the Lakers surrendered 142 points to the Los Angeles Clippers in a 48-point drubbing that saw Doc Rivers' club shoot 55.3 percent from the field and knock down 12 threes.

Not surprisingly, the Lakers are the only team that's surrendered at least 140 points in a single game this season, and they've now done so twice. 

Some more context: According to Basketball-Reference, the Lakers have now allowed 140 points or more just 25 times in franchise history. Entering the calendar year, the Lakers had gone eight seasons without allowing 140 points, and prior to that, hadn't done so since 1993. 

And quite frankly, the best news for L.A. at this point is that the season is nearing a close.

Only 10 games stand between the Lakers and summer vacation, which means Mitch Kupchak and the team's front office will be afforded a chance to reconstruct a defense that ranks 29th in opponent's points per game and 28th in defensive efficiency (points per 100 possessions). 

Injuries and schematic issues have marred Mike D'Antoni's second season as L.A.'s head coach, but given the team's consistent inability to defend, you have to think that this may be the end of the line for the mustachioed frontman. 

All statistics courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com unless noted otherwise.