NBA Scores Western Conference Finals: Denver Nuggets Even Series with Los Angeles Lakers

Carmelo Anthony scored 34 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, Chauncey Billups added 27 points and 4 assists and Linas Kleiza finished with 16 points and hit four three-pointers as the Denver Nuggets bounced back from a disappointing Game 1 loss to drop the Los Angeles Lakers 106-103 on Thursday night to even their best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series.

Over the first six minutes of the opening frame the Nuggets and Lakers were virtually even but LA used an 8-2 spurt to build a seven-point cushion with 3:47 left in the quarter. That lead was extended to nine following a Kobe Bryant bucket but J.R. Smith answered with a triple to pull the Nuggets to within six before Kobe would put the Lakers up 31-23 heading into the second following a pair of free-throws.

In the second LA quickly pushed their lead to 14 as Denver went cold from the floor and looked lethargic on defense. Carmelo Anthony was the only bright spot for the Nuggets for much of the frame as he scored 14 straight for his club but that only had Denver within 11 and then Kobe sank another pair from the line to extend LA’s lead to 13 with 2:40 on the clock. Denver snapped out of their offensive slumber over those final minutes and used a 12-0 run to close to within one and by halftime the Lakers lead had been trimmed 55-54.

Denver was able to pull even with the Lakers in the third at 64-64 but then LA used a run of their own, a 7-0 spurt, to move in front 71-64 and it looked like they were getting ready to put the pressure on the Nuggets. That didn’t happen though as Denver remained calm and continued to battle and Carmelo sank four free-throws at the end of the frame to get the Nuggets to within 81-80 heading into the fourth.

Pau Gasol sank one of two from the line in the opening minute of the fourth to give LA a two-point lead but then Denver made their move and finally grabbed their first lead since 10-9 in the first when Kleiza buried triple and after Carmelo hit a 15-footer two minutes later the Nuggets were up 91-84. LA responded over the next three minutes as they went on a 9-0 run to move in front 93-91 and Denver looked like they were self-destructing for the second straight game. Carmelo ended the LA run with a pair of free-throws and Denver managed to scratch out a three-point lead with 2:21 left in eth game. Kobe evened the scoreboard with a triple though and after Billups sank a pair from the line Kobe hit a 9-footer to pull LA even once again at 101-101 with 45 seconds left. Denver then got a huge bucket from Kenyon Martin and following a Trevor Ariza turnover Billups sank another two to extend the lead to 105-101 with 13 seconds left. Gasol pulled the Lakers to within two after hitting a pair from the line and LA had one more shot at tying the game after Billups split a pair from the line but Derek Fisher missed a last second three and the Nuggets had the win.

After an awful Game 1 from the free-throw line the Nuggets improved significantly, hitting 29-37 from the stripe.

Click here for more Sports News

About YourFINDit

YourFindit Community is a business, music and social networking community. YourFINDit provides members with a wealth of applications that enable them to create an in depth profile within YourFindit. Profiles include an About Me, Background and Lifestyle, Videos, Photo sharing, News, Music, Blogs, unique URL and networking with other members inside the YourFINDit community. YourFindit provides ADit to each member providing them the opportunity to have an exclusive profile (no outside advertising) displaying only banner ads they upload to their pages. Members can run their own ads or give or sell their ad space to advertisers at prices the member sets.

To create your profile sign up and within minutes you too can have your People profile running your ads and building your network with new members daily.

YourFindit is owned and operated by TransWorldNews, Inc. a news and press release distribution service.