Nuggets Defeat Lakers on Turnaround Thursday, 106-103

The way the Denver Nuggets had been dominating in the first two rounds of the playoffs, it was out of character that they should blow a 16-point first quarter lead against the Lakers on Tuesday night.

But it wasn’t out of character for the Lakers to do such a thing.

And that’s exactly what happened on "Turnaround Thursday" as the Nuggets defeated the Lakers 106-103, to even their Western Conference Final series at one game apiece.

The Lakers dominated the Nuggets for nearly the entire first half. Then, within the last three minutes, they watched their 14-point lead dwindle to just one point, 55-54, as the Nuggets went on a 14-2 run.

And that led to the ultimate Nuggets victory, 106-103

Just as Derek Fisher closed out the half Tuesday night with a last second three-point shot, the ever resourceful Chauncey Billups bounced an inbound throw off of Kobe Bryant’s back, caught it and went in uncontested for the dunk to close out the half.

Positively brilliant!

Carmelo Anthony, who had been held in check most of the first quarter, came to life right before halftime to spark the Nuggets with his 16 points. Linus Kleiza came off the bench to hit a couple of crucial three-pointers for 11 points and eight rebounds. Kenyon Martin had 12 points.

Bryant had 18 points at the half. No other Laker was in double figures.

The teams played dead even in the third quarter. Bryant and Trevor Ariza went back and forth with Anthony and Billups as the quarter ended with the Lakers up by a point, 81-80.

Phil Jackson decided to rest Bryant early in the fourth period. The result: the Nuggets quickly went ahead 91-84.

The Lakers managed to catch up and forge ahead by a point. But they fell victim to the same problem as the Nuggets had on Tuesday, missed free throws.

In the closing minutes, Pau Gasol missed two crucial free throws and  Ariza missed one. That, plus turnovers, in the final two minutes led to the Lakers downfall.

Ariza, who made the defensive play to seal the Lakers victory on Tuesday, slipped and muffed a jump ball tap from Gasol to seal the win for the Nuggets.

Anthony and Bryant again battled one another from wire to wire. This time, Anthony scoring 34 points to Bryant’s 32,  to push the Nuggets over the top.

It was inevitable that Billups would erupt sooner or later, and he did. He scored 26 points. Kleiza and Kenyon Martin each had 16 points.

Ariza, despite his slip at the end, had another splendid game. He shot 6-of-7 and 2-2 from the three-point line and had four steals.

Gasol had another double-double, scoring 17 points and grabbing 17 rebounds.

So far, both games have been barn burners going right down to the final seconds. With the series now tied at one game apiece, the scene moves to Denver for Game Three on Saturday night.