Despite some strong work from Kobe Bryant (22 pts, 6 asts, 6 rebs), the Nuggets managed their first win against the Lakers last night by double-teaming Bynum and shutting out the dominant 7 footer. Gasol (16 pts, 3 asts, 7 rebs) and Sessions (15 pts, 6 asts, 9 rebs) did their best, but it wasn’t enough to fill in the gap. Denver took an early 14 – 30 lead in the first quarter, and didn’t let up. At halftime, the Lakers were down 39 – 55, and the Nuggets had yet to allow Bynum to sink a shot.

All hope was not lost; with 9 minutes to go in the 3rd, Bynum figured out how to work the double team and made a sweet 7 foot 2 point shot off a nice pass from KB. His game only grew from there–clocking in at 18 pts, 12 rebs, and 2 asts at the end of the game.

The Lakers, however, never got back on top.

There was a moment of excitement when Kobe brought the gap into single digits with a 3 point SWISH that made it a 9 pt game with 7.07 to play in the 3rd–YES!–but LA just couldn’t catch it up.

Final Score?

Lakers 84, Nuggets 99…and the Lakers will have to close out the series in LA.

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