Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers, Game 2 (Lakers lead 1-0)
There are two ways to look at Denver’s Game 1 Western Conference Finals loss in Los Angeles on Tuesday night: The Nuggets thoroughly outplayed the Lakers and showed that they have what it takes to win this series, or Denver blew its one chance to steal a road win and can’t hang with Kobe Bryant and Co. in the fourth quarter.
The Nuggets have just three postseason losses and all have been by two points, but they are 5.5-point underdogs on WagerWeb.com for tonight’s Game 2 against Los Angeles.
Game 1 was all about Kobe vs. Carmelo Anthony. Melo seemed to have the upper hand through much of the game and finished with 39 points, but Bryant scored 40 points, including six free throws in the final 30 seconds, to give the Lakers a 105-103 victory.
“We just kind of got away with one,” Bryant said. “It happens sometimes.”
The Nuggets have now lost 11 consecutive playoff games to the Lakers, including a first-round sweep last season. That was Denver’s fourth loss to L.A. this season in five tries but the first time it covered in Los Angeles.
“Oh, we’re going to respond. I guarantee we respond,” Anthony said Wednesday. “We’re not really worried about trailing. It’s just one game.”
The Nuggets held a 96-92 lead with just over three minutes left. They haven’t lost consecutive games since losing three straight from March 6-9.
The big news regarding Game 2 is the injury status of Denver’s Kenyon Martin and J.R. Smith.
Smith, usually the first guard off the bench, is dealing with a calf strain he suffered late in Game 1. He did not run during practice Wednesday, doing just some light treadmill work.
“I’m definitely going to play,” Smith said. “I don’t think nothing can keep me from this game.”
Martin, the starting power forward, fractured his ring finger but also says he will play tonight. Thanks in large part to Martin, the Nuggets frontcourt outscored the Lakers’ Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum 29-19 in Game 1. Bynum was limited by foul trouble, and Gasol had four fouls.
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