Lakers Beat Nuggets 105-103

Game 1 of the best-of-seven series was last night at Staples Center, and the Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets 105-103. While many questioned the Lakers’ decision to trade for NBA unknown Trevor Ariza a year and a half ago, he has since proven himself. Kobe Bryant may have had 40 points, six rebounds and four assists last night, but it was Ariza everyone was talking about. Although Ariza was the main culprit in giving up 39 points to Carmelo Anthony, he protected a 101-99 Lakers lead with his third steal of the game, prompting the usually-quiet Lakers’ Coach Phil Jackson to say, “That was a huge play for us.” For his part Ariza was modest about his achievement: “He threw the ball with enough air for me to get it. That’s all.”

The Lakers stood strong during the fourth quarter against Denver in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, after struggling to get through a seven-game series against Houston. With 13 points each, Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol were the only Lakers in double-figure scoring other than Kobe Bryant, who was basically the Lakers’ lone threat on offense. Said Jackson, “We had so many guys that looked indecisive out there, which is a credit to their defense. [Bryant] was a scoring threat for us. We had very little else going for us.” Bryant did pick up his fifth technical foul of the playoffs in the third quarter; he will be suspended for one game is he picks up a seventh in the playoffs. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is at Staples Center on Thursday.

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