Lakers vs. Nuggets: Game 6 Highlights, Twitter Reaction and Analysis

The Los Angeles Lakers had an opportunity to close out their opening-round series on Thursday in Denver to advance in the 2012 NBA playoffs, but the Nuggets came out on fire, refusing to go down without a fight.

By the end of the night, the Nuggets had forced Game 7 with a 113-96 victory, and the Lakers found themselves in a troubling spot.

It won't matter that the Lakers are going back home for Game 7 if they continue to play this poorly. 

Tweets of the Night

Before the game, the incomparable Not Bill Walton quipped:

"

Kobe needed many different medicines in order to play tonight. And true to form, he took all the shots himself.

— Not Bill Walton (@NotBillWalton) May 11, 2012"

After the Nuggets got off to a quick start, J.A. Adande of ESPN tweeted:

"

Lakers lucky to be down 10 after 1Q. Feels like Nuggets should be up by 20.

— J.A. Adande (@jadande) May 11, 2012"

Bleacher Report's own Eric Ball pointed out what has been the Lakers' weakness all season long—defending opposing point guards:

"

#Nuggets crowd doing it's job in the 1st half. So are the point guards: 22 buckets, 15 assists

— Eric Ball (@BigLeagueEball) May 11, 2012"

The Daily Dime crew over at ESPN got to the heart of the Lakers' demise in Game 6:

"

Lakers bigs are sleepwalking while the Nuggets are running circles around them. Now up 63-45 as the Lakers call timeout.

— Dime Update (@DimeUpdate) May 11, 2012"

Must-See Highlight

Early in the second half, Kenneth Faried took a hard foul from Kobe Bryant.

Grades for Key Lakers Players

Kobe Bryant: A

Despite suffering with a stomach virus, Kobe Bryant once again lit up the scoreboard this postseason. The only problem was, the rest of his teammates didn't come along for the ride. Bryant deserved more from his teammates than he got in this latest matchup. He ended up with 31 points on 13-of-23 shooting.

Andrew Bynum: B

Sometimes a player's stats don't accurately portray his performance. Andrew Bynum scored and rebounded the basketball, but despite his four blocks, he didn't play enough consistent post defense to limit the Nuggets' explosive offense. Bynum finished with 11 points and 16 boards.

Pau Gasol: F

Pau Gasol certainly had his worst game of the series. He was a non-factor on Thursday and had a horrible shooting night. Gasol finished with three points and three rebounds while shooting 1-of-10 from the Pepsi Center floor. 

Grades for Key Nuggets Players

Ty Lawson: A

Ty Lawson exploded on Thursday, guided by the poor help-defense of the Lakers' bigs. He was the star of the game and ignited the Nuggets to a furious pace from the very beginning. Lawson finished with 32 points, six assists and five rebounds.

Danilo Gallinari: B

Danilo Gallinari scored both inside and outside and moved the ball around. His all-around game is the kind of thing George Karl loves on his depth chart. He posted 12 points, seven assists and four rebounds.

Kenneth Faried: B+

Rookie Kenneth Faried hasn't played a lot of minutes this season, but he's already shown he can be a very good rebounder when given playing time. The 6'8", 230-pounder has also proven to be an explosive player near the rim. Faried ended with 15 points, 11 boards and two blocks in 28 minutes of action.

Deciding Factor: Shooting

Beyond Bryant, the Lakers were a wreck from the field. In the same breath, the Nuggets came out on fire from the start. Again, it won't matter that the Lakers are going back to L.A. and the Staples Center for Game 7 if they keep shooting like this. The Lakers shot 41 percent for the game, while the Nuggets shot 52.2 percent.

Game MVP: Ty Lawson

Ty Lawson has developed into a force in the NBA, and this season has been the breakthrough campaign for this 24-year-old guard from UNC. The Lakers have had trouble stopping speedy point guards all season, and Lawson was their worst nightmare in the blowout win.

What's Next?

The Lakers will host the Nuggets on Saturday at the Staples Center in the deciding Game 7. 

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