Lakers Rally Late, Beat Nuggets 95-89
When you think of the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers, you think of two things: arguably the two best teams in the Western Conference, although I am sure you’d get some disagreement from the Utah Jazz fans – and rightfully so. You can add a pair of high-octane offenses into the mix, as well, and you have the makings for a track meet.
The two aforementioned teams got together for a nationally televised game on Sunday and the game was not the track meet that one would expect when these two get together. Despite the Nuggets’ poor shooting (36%), their frequent trips to the free throw line allowed them to stay in the game. But Los Angeles chipped away and managed to take the lead late in the fourth quarter, taking a hard-fought 95-89 win over Denver at Staples Center.
The first quarter was all Nuggets as they took an early 13-7 lead on a Kenyon Martin dunk; the Lakers reduced their deficit to four, but Denver would go into the second quarter with an eight-point lead at 29-21. Denver took their first double-digit lead at 33-23 on a Carmelo driving layup and would build their lead up to eleven; they would settle for a 52-43 advantage going into the intermission.
Pau Gasol’s free throw would get Los Angeles to within two, but Arron Afflalo’s 3 put Denver up by eleven before the Lakers took a timeout. Los Angeles would go on a late 14-6 run which narrowed the Nuggets’ lead to 70-67 going into the final period. Derek Fisher made a rare mistake as he fouled Chauncey Billups behind the three-point line; Billups would convert all three free throws which tied the game at 82. But the Lakers would ice the game as the Nuggets didn’t score another field goal over the final 4:10, ending their 3-game win streak.
The Lakers were led by Lamar Odom with 20 points, 12 rebounds, an assist, 4 steals and a block while Ron Artest added 17 (including four treys) with 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 6 steals; Gasol chipped in 15 with 14 rebounds, an assist and a block while Kobe Bryant had a poor effort, scoring 14 on 3-of-17 shooting along with 5 rebounds, 12 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks.
The Nuggets’ high scorer was Carmelo Anthony with 21 points, 5 rebounds, an assist and a steal while Billups added 17 (including three-3-pointers) with 5 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal; Afflalo pitched in 16 (including 3 three-pointers) with 2 rebounds, an assist and a block while Nene Hilario notched a double-double, scoring 14 with 11 boards.
Los Angeles (45-15) plays again on Tuesday when they host the Indiana Pacers while Denver (39-20) makes the short trip to Phoenix to face the Suns Monday night.
