Lakers-Nuggets: LA Rolls to 102-84 Win

Game 3 of the series between the Lakers and the Nuggets, some things changed but the outcome remained the same.

The unusual thing in this game was that the Denver Nuggets finally did clamp down on defense, holding the Lakers under 120 points; but so did the Lakers, holding the Nuggets’ All-Star duo of Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony to their worst performance since joining forces 16 months ago.

The duo combined to go 10-for-38 from the field and 15 and 16 points, respectively. The Nuggets offense was literally missing in action & nowhere to be found.

Denver proved again that it can’t keep its emotions or the Lakers’ offense in check. The Lakers used a balanced offense, led by Kobe Bryant’s 22 points to provide a thorough beatdown of the Nuggets.

The Lakers’ defense was decent and was aided by the Nuggets missing several close shots. Iverson and Anthony were getting to the basket but were not finishing.

The Nuggets’ poor shooting and turnovers in the first half were instrumental in their demise on Saturday; the All-Star duo of A.I. & ‘Melo had a combined 15 points at halftime.

Pau Gasol led the balanced scoring for the Lakers in the first half with 13 points and Kobe Bryant had 8 points on 3-of-8 shooting.

Los Angeles’ bench was involved and everyone that was brought into the game contributed.

Luke Walton was huge again finishing the game with 15 points 5 rebounds and 5 assists. The balanced scoring and solid defense allowed the Lakers to control the tempo of the game. According to coach Karl, Anthony and Iverson were 1-of-20 on layup attempts and he was in search of the answer. No pun intended.

The Lakers’ coaching staff stressed to the team that they were really lucky in the first half and that the defense had to improve for the team to win. The coaching staff also put the team on notice that playing for their playoff lives the Nuggets would shoot better and would start making the shots that were missed in the first half.

The Lakers heeded the warning of the coaching staff and were prepared but that Nugget team didn’t show up. The improved shooting and play of the Nuggets in the second half didn’t happen.

Kobe didn’t have the best shooting first half and came out hot in the third quarter and dropped 9 straight points on the Nuggets to push the Lakers lead to 64-51 and quiet the Nugget faithful. The Nuggets’ frustration seemed to boil over when Carmelo Anthony received a technical foul, the Nuggets’ seventh in the series, after he was stripped going to the basket which lead to a breakaway basket for Bryant. Bryant’s score pushed the Lakers’ lead to 78-61 in the third quarter at the 2:33 mark.

The Lakers took an 83-64 lead early in the fourth quarter and the competitive stage of the game was over. George Karl emptied the bench. All of the starters were frustrated and highly upset and that is really where the now infamous “We all quit” verbal hand grenade Carmelo Anthony threw was launched.   

The Lakers have won each game in this series by 14 points or more, which makes this the fourth time in franchise history that the Lakers have accomplished this feat after three games. Iverson spoke of never being this frustrated before and we all know what Anthony had to say. The Nuggets spirit was broken to lose a must win game at home the way they did.

It appeared at one point like the most athletic moment of the game was when a heckler shouted at coach Karl "just don't sit there.” The heckler was none other than Anthony lobbing yet another verbal hand grenade. 

The Lakers are up 3-0 in the series and have one more game in the city of Denver and in this series and after Monday April 28 the Lakers can put down the Nuggets’ owners manual.

The talk in Los Angeles and the majority of NBA Playoff viewers is that the Nuggets will be swept away. I feel that a four game sweep will happen, but I remain the guy that said when the series started Lakers in 5 or less.

Game 4 will be on Monday at 7:30 pm PST.