Almost lost amidst the fervor of Andrew Bynum’s first appearance since the Jan. 31st injury that kept him out L.A.’s last 32 games was the fact that the Lakers convincingly won a tough game against the West’s No. 2 team, beating the Nuggets by 14 in front of a revved-up STAPLES crowd on Thursday evening.
Denver had quietly won eight in a row and 13-of-14 games, and managed to come back from 11 down in the first half to tie the score heading into halftime, but the game was never close in the final quarter. The story line was a bit more interesting since the Nuggets’ best player had struggled mightily against L.A. in the team’s first three games, shooting just 17-for-51 from the field (27 percent), but wasn’t all that impressed with the Lakers (as he told the InDenverTimes):
“When I look at the West, I don’t really see that one dominant team. Everybody says the Lakers. Yeah, the Lakers are pretty good. But I don’t really see that one team that you say is going to win the West. I think it’s pretty much even now.’’
While ‘Melo hit 8-of-14 shots for 23 points in the first three quarters, he missed his only two field goal attempts in the fourth, failing to score. Meanwhile, the Lakers were simply a level above the Nuggets, once again confirming the thesis that L.A.’s immensely difficult to beat when it brings a full effort*. It was really a complete team victory as the home team got some sort of contribution from every player who stepped onto the floor in purple and gold, led by Pau Gasol’s 27 points and career-high 19 rebounds (11 offensive), Kobe Bryant’s 33 points and, oh yeah, 16 points and seven boards in 21:05 of Bynum’s time.
*Most notably, the defensive energy in sweeps of Boston, Cleveland and Houston; at San Antonio, Phoenix, New Orleans (twice), Denver and Dallas.
The win allowed L.A. to keep pace with Cleveland - who owns a half-game edge for the league’s best record - heading into a tough game in Portland on Friday night. The game’s tougher not just due to its back-to-back nature in a city that treats Lakers games like Super Bowls, but because L.A. will not arrive in Oregon until the early hours of the morning. Now, Portland’s the only Western arena in which L.A. hasn’t won other than Utah (0-1), as the Lakers have simply had trouble sustaining the energy of the opponent - and the building - in two losses. But they’ll get their chance in a few hours.
Until then, your numbers:
11
Offensive rebounds for Pau Gasol, a career high.
19
Total rebounds for Gasol, also a career high.
21
Minutes played by Andrew Bynum, which produced 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting, plus seven boards, an assist, a turnover and five personal fouls.
32
Games Bynum had missed after tearing his right MCL.
46
Free throws attempted by a very aggressive Lakers team.
52
Points in the paint for the Lakers, who grabbed 18 offensive boards to Denver’s 10.
58
Percent shooting by a very efficient Kobe Bryant, who cashed 11-of-19 attempts and made 9-of-10 free throws.
63
Wins for the Lakers, 10 more than Denver, who owns the West’s second most victories.
