Apr

24

Bryant Scores 49, Lakers Blast Nuggets 122-107

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NBA PLAYOFFS 

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Regardless of what Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant’s true feelings are towards his team, the fact of the matter is that he is playing some of his best basketball in recent memory; Wednesday night’s game against the Denver Nuggets showcased why he is one of the top players in the NBA today as he exploded for 49 points, leading Los Angeles to an easy 122-107 win over Denver at Staples Center; the win gives the Lakers a 2-0 advantage in their best-of-7 series.

Denver made a slight tweak to their lineup, starting Linas Kleiza instead of Anthony Carter; the move worked early on as Kleiza and Carmelo Anthony scored six points apiece to help the Nuggets take an early 20-14 lead.? Bryant would respond for the Lakers as he scored 16 of his 20 first quarter points?in the final 4 1/2 minutes of the period as Los Angeles outscored Denver 19-12 to take a 33-32 lead; the Lakers outscored the Nuggets 14-4 to begin the second quarter for a 47-36 lead.? Los Angeles went?into halftime leading 59-49.

Anthony scored?7 straight?points?to start a 11-0 Denver run, giving the Nuggets a 68-67 lead halfway though the third quarter; Los Angeles’ Luke Walton?would provide some offense of his own as he scored 10 points during a 22-11 Lakers run to finish the period and give them a 89-79 lead going into the fourth quarter.? Denver would get to within five points 3 times before a 3-point play by Bryant made it 101-93 Los Angeles; Bryant would make a pair of free throws is a span of 2 seconds, courtesy of a pair of technical fouls whistled on the Nuggets’ Allen Iverson and J.R. Smith, making it 105-94.? 18 seconds later, Bryant would drain a trey, putting Los Angeles up by 14 - icing the game for the Lakers.

Los Angeles’ leading scorer was Bryant with 49 points, five 3-pointers, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, a steal and a block while Pau Gasol and Luke Walton scored 18 apiece - with Gasol grabbing 10 rebounds, dishing out 3 assists and blocking a shot while Walton grabbed 7 rebounds, dished out 5 assists and had a steal.? Denver was led by Iverson with 31 points, a rebound, 6 assists and 3 steals while Anthony scored 23 with 5 rebounds and an assist; Smith, from off the bench, added 21 with a rebound and an assist.? Los Angeles, with a 2-0 lead in the series, travels to Denver to face the Nuggets on Saturday night.



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