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Two things were learned after Sunday’s game between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers: the Lakers are felons, thanks to their thievery of forward/center Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies; also – that the acquisition of Gasol is paying dividends for Los Angeles.? Speaking of Gasol, he finally got a taste of the postseason and made hay while the sun shone as he scored 36 points, leading the Lakers to a 128-114 win over the Nuggets.? The win gives Los Angeles a 1-0 lead in this Western Conference series.

Denver isn’t exactly known for their defense – and for good reason – as Los Angeles shot 11-of-16to begin the game, while taking a 21-11 lead; the Lakers held a 26-16 lead before the Nuggets began to heat up.? Hot as in a major 26-7 run that would put Denver up 41-33.? Linas Kleiza and J.R. Smith combined for 20 points during the second quarter; however, with Gasol and Luke Walton tag-teaming, Los Angeles would outscore Denver 18-9 to go into halftime with a 58-56 lead.? Gasol and Bryant would combine for 13 points during a Lakers 15-4 explosion which would give Los Angeles a 73-60 lead; Gasol would add 6 more points as the Lakers manufactured a 14-5 run to end the period.

Los Angeles would enter the fourth quarter leading 97-78, but Denver would go on an 11-2 run, making it 101-91 with 8:17 left to go in the game; the Nuggets would get to within 9, but the Lakers wouldn’t let them get any closer.? Los Angeles’ high scorer was the aforementioned Gasol with 36 points, 16 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 blocks while Bryant scored 32 points, 3 rebounds, an assist, a steal and 2 blocks; Lamar Odom added 17 with 14 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals while Luke Walton chipped in with 16 along with 4 rebounds and 5 assists.?

Denver was led by Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony with 30 points each – with Iverson grabbing 5 rebounds, dishing out 7 assists and blocking a shot while Anthony grabbed 12 rebounds, dished out 3 assists, had 2 steals and blocked a shot; Kleiza, from off the bench, scored 23 with 3 treys, 4 rebounds, an assist and a steal while Smith added 15 with 3 rebounds and a steal.? Los Angeles plays again on Wednesday as they face Denver in Game 2 of their Western Conference playoff series.