Lakers Sweep Nuggets, 107-101, Advance to Second Round

The Lakers are the only team in this year’s NBA Playoffs to complete the first round with a four-game sweep. In addition, the Denver Nuggets are the first 50-win team in NBA history to be swept in a series.

Although the first three games were fairly easy wins for the Lakers, this one went down to the final minute. But it started out like another runaway.

The Lakers led by as many as 13 points in the first half. They held a 64-54 lead at halftime. But it was a different team that came out of the locker room than the one that went in.

Halfway through the third quarter, the Lakers, who only had three turnovers in the first half, had more turnovers than they had points -–5 turnovers and only 2 points.

That enabled the Nuggets to get within three points. Then J. R. Smith was fouled by Kobe Bryant on a 3-point shot and sank all three free throws to tie the game at 71. The Nuggets took the lead briefly on a Kleiza jump shot, but the Lakers came back to finish the third quarter up by only 2 points, 79-77.

The teams seesawed back and forth until Kleiza tied the game at 85. Then after Lamar Odom made a three-point play to put the Lakers ahead, Bryant again fouled Smith on a three-point attempt. And Smith made all three free throws once more to tie the game at 88.

Then Bryant, who may very well be the NBA’s MVP, took over the game. He scored 7 consecutive points to put the Lakers up 95-90. Then Smith hit an incredible 28-footer, and followed with a steal of a Bryant pass. He made the layup and was fouled and put the Nuggets up by one, 96-95.

Bryant came back with another jumper his 9^th point in a row before Luke Walton hit a 3-point shot to put the Lakers back up 100-96 at 2:36.

Kenyon Martin fouled out trying to set a screen. Then Carmelo Antony fouled out covering Bryant. Nene put in a slam dunk after Odom mishandled the rebound off Iverson’s miss. But Bryant went right to work again, driving into the paint for a lay up. He had 12 of the Lakers last 15 points.

However, Denver wasn’t about to give up. Marcus Camby of all people hit a three, and the Nuggets were still in it.

The Lakers came down passing the ball through a Nuggets defense that was scrambling to get to Bryant. He got the ball to Odom who found Pau Gasol all alone under the basket for his only field goal of the half, after scoring 18 points in the first half.

And that’s how the game ended with the Lakers up 107-101 for their first sweep since the 2002 NBA Finals.

Bryant finished with 31 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Gasol was 21-7-4, Odom had a double-double, 14 and 12. Vladimir Radmanovic had 12 points and 6 rebounds.

For Denver, J.R. Smith finished with 26 points. Allen Iverson had 22 points, and Carmelo Anthony had 21 points and 11 rebounds.

Now the Lakers await the winner of the Utah Jazz – Houston Rockets series, which resumes tomorrow night in Houston with the Jazz up 3 games to one.