GAME THREAD: NBA: LA LAKERS (10-8) at DENVER (11-7)

NBA: LA LAKERS at DENVER

<div class="pre">LA LAKERS (111) AT DENVER (107)

LA LAKERS

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

D FISHER G 33:15 6-11 7-8 2 3 5 5 4 1 1 20
K BRYANT G 30:46 10-19 5-6 1 7 8 5 4 2 1 25
L ODOM F 34:22 7-15 2-6 1 6 7 4 5 0 4 17
L WALTON F 25:22 4-8 0-2 2 1 3 3 4 2 3 8
C MIHM C 22:03 2-7 2-3 2 4 6 1 3 1 1 6
A BYNUM 25:57 1-1 0-0 0 2 2 3 3 2 0 2
V RADMANOVIC 23:47 7-12 1-2 2 3 5 1 2 2 2 21
J FARMAR 21:25 2-6 0-0 0 3 3 2 3 2 1 6
T ARIZA 12:29 0-1 3-4 1 3 4 2 3 0 1 3
S VUJACIC 10:30 1-4 1-1 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 3
J CRITTENTON 0:04 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 40-84 21-32 11 32 43 28 32 12 15 111
(.476) (.656) TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 17 (0 PTS)

DENVER

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

A CARTER G 23:18 1-4 2-2 0 1 1 3 1 1 1 4
A IVERSON G 48:00 18-27 15-18 0 2 2 8 4 1 5 51
K MARTIN F 34:28 2-8 2-6 2 6 8 2 5 1 1 6
C ANTHONY F 44:22 10-23 6-7 3 5 8 4 3 4 5 26
M CAMBY C 38:40 0-3 0-2 4 16 20 1 4 0 1 0
E NAJERA 22:52 3-4 2-2 2 5 7 3 2 0 0 10
J SMITH 21:22 1-10 5-6 1 0 1 0 3 1 2 7
L KLEIZA 6:58 1-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3

TOTALS 240:00 36-80 32-43 12 35 47 21 24 8 15 107
(.450) (.744) TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 15 (0 PTS)

LA LAKERS 29 33 26 23 - 111
DENVER 24 34 30 19 - 107

BLOCKED SHOTS: LA LAKERS - A BYNUM 3, C MIHM 2, K BRYANT, L WALTON,
T ARIZA. DENVER - K MARTIN 3, M CAMBY.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: LA LAKERS 10-26 (.385), D FISHER 1-3, K BRYANT 0-
3, L ODOM 1-5, L WALTON 0-1, V RADMANOVIC 6-9, J FARMAR 2-4, S VUJACIC 0-
1. DENVER 3-14 (.214), A CARTER 0-1, A IVERSON 0-1, C ANTHONY 0-3,
E NAJERA 2-3, J SMITH 0-5, L KLEIZA 1-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: LA LAKERS - A BYNUM. DENVER - K MARTIN.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: DAN CRAWFORD, DAVID JONES, ELY ROE.
A - 19,155. T - 2:39.</div>

 

NBA: LA LAKERS at DENVER

<div class="pre">LA LAKERS (111)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
D Fisher 33:15 6-11 7-8 2-5 5 4 20
K Bryant 30:46 10-19 5-6 1-8 5 4 25
L Odom 34:22 7-15 2-6 1-7 4 5 17
L Walton 25:22 4-8 0-2 2-3 3 4 8
C Mihm 22:03 2-7 2-3 2-6 1 3 6
A Bynum 25:57 1-1 0-0 0-2 3 3 2
V Radmanovic 23:47 7-12 1-2 2-5 1 2 21
J Farmar 21:25 2-6 0-0 0-3 2 3 6
T Ariza 12:29 0-1 3-4 1-4 2 3 3
S Vujacic 10:30 1-4 1-1 0-0 2 1 3
J Crittenton 0:04 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 40-84 21-32 11-43 28 32 111
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.476, FT-.656. 3-Point Goals:
10-26, .385 (D Fisher 1-3, K Bryant 0-3, L
Odom 1-5, L Walton 0-1, V Radmanovic 6-9, J
Farmar 2-4, S Vujacic 0-1). Team Rebounds:
10. Blocked Shots:8 (A Bynum 3, C Mihm 2, K
Bryant, L Walton, T Ariza). Turnovers:15 (L
Odom 4, L Walton 3, V Radmanovic 2, K Bryant,
S Vujacic, J Farmar, T Ariza, C Mihm, D
Fisher). Steals: 12 (K Bryant 2, V Radmanovic
2, L Walton 2, J Farmar 2, A Bynum 2, D
Fisher, C Mihm).


DENVER (107)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
A Carter 23:18 1-4 2-2 0-1 3 1 4
A Iverson 48:00 18-27 15-18 0-2 8 4 51
K Martin 34:28 2-8 2-6 2-8 2 5 6
C Anthony 44:22 10-23 6-7 3-8 4 3 26
M Camby 38:40 0-3 0-2 4-20 1 4 0
E Najera 22:52 3-4 2-2 2-7 3 2 10
J Smith 21:22 1-10 5-6 1-1 0 3 7
L Kleiza 6:58 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 3

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 36-80 32-43 12-47 21 24 107
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.450, FT-.744. 3-Point Goals:
3-14, .214 (A Carter 0-1, A Iverson 0-1, C
Anthony 0-3, E Najera 2-3, J Smith 0-5, L
Kleiza 1-1). Team Rebounds: 10. Blocked
Shots:4 (K Martin 3, M Camby). Turnovers:15
(A Iverson 5, C Anthony 5, J Smith 2, M
Camby, A Carter, K Martin). Steals: 8 (C
Anthony 4, A Iverson, A Carter, J Smith, K
Martin).

--------------------------------------------
LA LAKERS 29 33 26 23 - 111
DENVER 24 34 30 19 - 107
--------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: La Lakers - 1 (A Bynum, 5:28
2nd). Denver - 1 (K Martin, 8:48 2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 19,155. T: 2:39.
Officials: Dan Crawford, David Jones, Ely Roe.</div>

 

NBA: LA LAKERS at DENVER

<div class="pre">LA LAKERS (111) AT DENVER (107)

LA LAKERS

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

D FISHER G 33:15 6-11 7-8 2 3 5 5 4 1 1 20
K BRYANT G 30:46 10-19 5-6 1 7 8 5 4 2 1 25
L ODOM F 34:22 7-15 2-6 1 6 7 4 5 0 4 17
L WALTON F 25:22 4-8 0-2 2 1 3 3 4 2 3 8
C MIHM C 22:03 2-7 2-3 2 4 6 1 3 1 1 6
A BYNUM 25:57 1-1 0-0 0 2 2 3 3 2 0 2
V RADMANOVIC 23:47 7-12 1-2 2 3 5 1 2 2 2 21
J FARMAR 21:25 2-6 0-0 0 3 3 2 3 2 1 6
T ARIZA 12:29 0-1 3-4 1 3 4 2 3 0 1 3
S VUJACIC 10:30 1-4 1-1 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 3
J CRITTENTON 0:04 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 40-84 21-32 11 32 43 28 32 12 15 111
(.476) (.656) TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 17 (15 PTS)

DENVER

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

A CARTER G 23:18 1-4 2-2 0 1 1 3 1 1 1 4
A IVERSON G 48:00 18-27 15-18 0 2 2 8 4 1 5 51
K MARTIN F 34:28 2-8 2-6 2 6 8 2 5 1 1 6
C ANTHONY F 44:22 10-23 6-7 3 5 8 4 3 4 5 26
M CAMBY C 38:40 0-3 0-2 4 16 20 1 4 0 1 0
E NAJERA 22:52 3-4 2-2 2 5 7 3 2 0 0 10
J SMITH 21:22 1-10 5-6 1 0 1 0 3 1 2 7
L KLEIZA 6:58 1-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3
J MCCOY DNP - COACH'S DECISION
B JONES DNP - COACH'S DECISION
V WAFER DNP - COACH'S DECISION
Y DIAWARA DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 36-80 32-43 12 35 47 21 24 8 15 107
(.450) (.744) TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 15 (20 PTS)

LA LAKERS 29 33 26 23 - 111
DENVER 24 34 30 19 - 107

BLOCKED SHOTS: LA LAKERS - A BYNUM 3, C MIHM 2, K BRYANT, L WALTON,
T ARIZA. DENVER - K MARTIN 3, M CAMBY.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: LA LAKERS 10-26 (.385), D FISHER 1-3, K BRYANT 0-
3, L ODOM 1-5, L WALTON 0-1, V RADMANOVIC 6-9, J FARMAR 2-4, S VUJACIC 0-
1. DENVER 3-14 (.214), A CARTER 0-1, A IVERSON 0-1, C ANTHONY 0-3,
E NAJERA 2-3, J SMITH 0-5, L KLEIZA 1-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: LA LAKERS - DEFENSIVE THREE. DENVER - K MARTIN.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: DAN CRAWFORD, DAVID JONES, ELY ROE.
A - 19,155. T - 2:39.</div>

 

NBA: LA LAKERS at DENVER

<div class="pre">LA LAKERS (111)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
D Fisher 33:15 6-11 7-8 2-5 5 4 20
K Bryant 30:46 10-19 5-6 1-8 5 4 25
L Odom 34:22 7-15 2-6 1-7 4 5 17
L Walton 25:22 4-8 0-2 2-3 3 4 8
C Mihm 22:03 2-7 2-3 2-6 1 3 6
A Bynum 25:57 1-1 0-0 0-2 3 3 2
V Radmanovic 23:47 7-12 1-2 2-5 1 2 21
J Farmar 21:25 2-6 0-0 0-3 2 3 6
T Ariza 12:29 0-1 3-4 1-4 2 3 3
S Vujacic 10:30 1-4 1-1 0-0 2 1 3
J Crittenton 0:04 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 40-84 21-32 11-43 28 32 111
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.476, FT-.656. 3-Point Goals:
10-26, .385 (D Fisher 1-3, K Bryant 0-3, L
Odom 1-5, L Walton 0-1, V Radmanovic 6-9, J
Farmar 2-4, S Vujacic 0-1). Team Rebounds:
10. Blocked Shots:8 (A Bynum 3, C Mihm 2, K
Bryant, L Walton, T Ariza). Turnovers:15 (L
Odom 4, L Walton 3, V Radmanovic 2, K Bryant,
S Vujacic, J Farmar, T Ariza, C Mihm, D
Fisher). Steals: 12 (K Bryant 2, V Radmanovic
2, L Walton 2, J Farmar 2, A Bynum 2, D
Fisher, C Mihm).


DENVER (107)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
A Carter 23:18 1-4 2-2 0-1 3 1 4
A Iverson 48:00 18-27 15-18 0-2 8 4 51
K Martin 34:28 2-8 2-6 2-8 2 5 6
C Anthony 44:22 10-23 6-7 3-8 4 3 26
M Camby 38:40 0-3 0-2 4-20 1 4 0
E Najera 22:52 3-4 2-2 2-7 3 2 10
J Smith 21:22 1-10 5-6 1-1 0 3 7
L Kleiza 6:58 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 3
J McCoy DNP - COACH'S DECISION
B Jones DNP - COACH'S DECISION
V Wafer DNP - COACH'S DECISION
Y Diawara DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 36-80 32-43 12-47 21 24 107
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.450, FT-.744. 3-Point Goals:
3-14, .214 (A Carter 0-1, A Iverson 0-1, C
Anthony 0-3, E Najera 2-3, J Smith 0-5, L
Kleiza 1-1). Team Rebounds: 10. Blocked
Shots:4 (K Martin 3, M Camby). Turnovers:15
(A Iverson 5, C Anthony 5, J Smith 2, M
Camby, A Carter, K Martin). Steals: 8 (C
Anthony 4, A Iverson, A Carter, J Smith, K
Martin).

--------------------------------------------
LA LAKERS 29 33 26 23 - 111
DENVER 24 34 30 19 - 107
--------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: La Lakers - 1 (Defensive
Three, 5:28 2nd). Denver - 1 (K Martin, 8:48
2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 19,155. T: 2:39.
Officials: Dan Crawford, David Jones, Ely Roe.</div>

 

NBA: LA LAKERS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA LA LAKERS AT DENVER
NOTE: RESENDING BOX TO UPDATE POINTS OFF TURNOVERS.</div>

 

Re: NBA: LA LAKERS at DENVER

A few thoughts:</p>

- Ariza's defense saved us in the fourth quarter. His long arms kept AI honest and his quickness prevented penetration. It also allowed Kobe to concentrate on offense. Great job by Ariza. The trade may have been worth it after all.</p>

- We shoot too many threes. Nothing wrong with that, really, as long as you're willing to live well and die miserably because of it.</p>

- Who said Bynum couldn't play defense?</p>

- ESPN's broadcasting team was atrocious tonight. For the first time in the longest time, I actually preferred Joel, Stu, and Jonny Irish over a national broadcast. That's right, Stu, yodawgup said uh huh, don't bring in that crap, BSPN!</p>

</p>

 

DENVER (Ticker) -- It wasn't the 2001 NBA Finals, but AllenIverson was torching the Los Angeles Lakers once again. Thistime, Kobe Bryant trumped him.


Bryant scored 12 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter toovershadow Iverson's 51-point performance as the Lakers held offthe Denver Nuggets, 111-107, at the Pepsi Center on Wednesdaynight.


Battling a sore left shoulder, Bryant held Iverson to just twopoints in the final period as Los Angeles secured the victory.Iverson, who shot 18-of-27 from the field, was just 1-of-5 inthe fourth.


Bryant scored six points in the final 1:41 to seal the win,hitting a scoop shot and a fadeaway to make it 106-102 with 1:12left. The Lakers did not trail again.


"This was a good victory for us," Lakers coach Phil Jacksonsaid. "We had to absorb a lot of points from Iverson and he gotour whole team in foul trouble. I had to sit Kobe almost thewhole third quarter."


But it came after a vintage performance by Iverson, who scored48 points as the Philadelphia 76ers posted a surprising 107-101overtime victory over the Lakers in Game One of the 2001 Finals.The 76ers went on to lose the next four games.


Albeit on a lesser stage, Iverson had it all working Wednesdaynight, taking charge of a Nuggets' offense that he has beenhappy to share with fellow superstar Carmelo Anthony sincegetting dealt to Denver early last season.


"It was fun seeing him play that well," Nuggets coach GeorgeKarl said. "I felt he got a bit tired in the fourth quarter,especially having to endure all the contact he took."

Anthony and the rest of the Nuggets knew to stay out of the wayof the red-hot Iverson, who netted 33 points in the first halfand 49 after the third quarter en route to his highest-scoringoutput since joining Denver.


"Somehow I got 49 points in the first three quarters," saidIverson, who notched the highest-scoring output in the NBA thisseason, trumping Tracy McGrady's 47 on November 1. "Obviously,it is going to draw attention from the other team. I just gotin a rhythm early, and it carried on throughout the game."

The eight-time All-Star scored a career-high 60 points vs. theOrlando Magic on February 12, 2005, with the 76ers. He seemedwell on his way to besting that mark until the Lakers randouble- and triple-teams at him in the fourth quarter.

"Once they forced me to get the ball out of my hands, it was myresponsibility to get the ball to my teammates to make plays,"Iverson said.


"We didn't slow him down," Jackson said. "He slowed downhimself. We had a good road win against Phoenix this season,but it wasn't as nip-and-tuck as this game."


Iverson fell just one point shy of the all-time scoring recordat the Pepsi Center, when Bryant netted 52 on February 12, 2003.

It was a wonder Bryant was around for crunch time after bruisinghis left shoulder with two seconds left in the first quarter.He accidentally was tripped by Eduardo Najera and immediatelywent to the locker room, but returned with an ice pack for theinjury.


"He did a great job," Iverson said of Bryant. "He dideverything he felt they needed to get over the hump. He was infoul trouble and a little banged up and came back in and got itdone."


Trailing for most of the game despite Bryant's four fouls, theNuggets went on a 10-2 run, capped by two free throws by J.R.Smith to make it 100-96 with 4:24 left in the game.

Iverson then scored his first points of the fourth quarter togive the Nuggets a three-point bulge, 102-99, with 3:15 left -pushing him over the 50-point threshold for the 11th time in hiscareer.


But Andrew Bynum then slammed home an emphatic dunk off a lob byBryant and Vladimir Radmanovic hit 1-of-2 free throws to tiethe game at 102-102 - setting up Bryant's clutch run.

Anthony had 26 points and eight rebounds for the Nuggets, whohad their two-game winning streak snapped.