NBA Playoffs 2012: Denver Nuggets keep series alive with 102 – 99 win over Los Angeles Lakers – Recap - Part 1
The Denver Nuggets were staring at elimination at the start of the night, down 3 – 1 to an unforgiving Los Angeles Lakers side in their Western Conference first round tie. However, before the night was out, they had staved off elimination and made the matchup
much more interesting with an energetic display.
Playing at the Staples Center, the Nuggets outperformed the Lakers for large periods and were heading for an easy win before a late rally by the home side. Denver though hung on and grabbed an important 102 – 99 win.
The series will now head back to the Pepsi Center where the Nuggets will be looking to make home court count and take it to game-7. Nuggets veteran Andre Miller was focused to this end after the win tonight.
"We still have to go take care of business at home," Miller said. "Nothing is a gimme against this team. If we can take care of home and force a Game 7, anything can happen."
Miller was in thrilling form, leading the Nuggets with team high 24 points and 8 assists. Reserve centre JaVale McGee also had a huge game for Denver, notching up a double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds.
Danilo Gallinari managed 14 points and 5 rebounds, Kenneth Faried had 10 points with 9 boards while guard Arron Afflalo scored 19.
Denver played with an intensity not witnessed before in the series, and the blame could be fairly pointed at Andrew Bynum’s degrading remarks after game-4. The Nuggets used them to motivate for a splendid performance away from home, something even the mercurial
Kobe Bryant couldn’t quite overcome.
"That's true, closeouts can be easy," Bryant said. "Tonight wasn't one of those nights. ... Did it pump them up? Probably. You never want to give anybody bulletin board material, but if you're going to be a champion, you've got to play through things like
that."
The Nuggets were aggressive right from the start and managed a 12 – 7 lead at the halfway mark in the first quarter. The Lakers chased them down to 16 – 15, and then 18 – 17, but the away side retained their advantage at the end of the period at 26 – 23.
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