After LeBron James hit that magical shot to down Orlando in Game 2 on Friday, many wondered if Kobe Bryant might have noticed, and have something similarly special in store for us when his team hit the floor in Denver for Game 3 out west.As it turns out, he did.
Bryant's thee-pointer with just over a minute to play gave his Lakers the lead for good, and he finished the Nuggets off at the free throw line by hitting five of six down the stretch to give L.A. the 103-97 victory.
Carmelo Anthony, who averaged 35 points over his last five playoff games, led the Nuggets with just 21.
L.A. Leads 2-1 | Next Game: Monday @ Denver, 9 PM ET
'Melo shot a dismal 4-of-13 from the field, and made just one of his seven three-point attempts. He started off hot, hitting for 13 points in the first quarter and eighteen in the first half.
After the first quarter, however, Anthony had just one field goal and seven points the rest of the way. Kobe Bryant? He had 35 in the final three quarters.
Denver got some contributions from guys like Dahntay Jones and Chris Andersen, who combined for 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting. That's a bonus for them, but when Anthony, J.R. Smith, and Chauncey Billups combine to go 13-of-43, it ends up being irrelevant.
Despite subpar offensive games from Anthony and Billups, the Nuggets entered the fourth quarter with an eight-point lead and seemed primed to finish things off on their home floor. But the Lakers opened the period on a 10-1 run, taking their first lead since the first quarter on a three-pointer from Trevor Ariza that put them up 81-80 with seven minutes to go.
Ariza hit another big three a couple of minutes later, but his biggest play of the game was yet to come.
In a situation very similar to the end of Game 1, Ariza pilfered an inbound pass to seal the win. Denver was trying to inbound the ball on the sideline while trailing by two with 37 seconds remaining. Kenyon Martin threw the errant pass, prompting Ariza to come speeding up behind Carmelo Anthony to get the game-sealing steal, one that caused Anthony to foul Ariza to prevent a fast-break basket. Anthony fouled out on the play, which made the possibility of any late-game heroics from him a non-issue.
The Lakers outscored Denver 32-18 in the critical fourth quarter, and in the end, it was all about what Bryant was able to do to will his team to the victory: 41 points on 12-of-24 shooting, six rebounds, five assists, two steals, and just one turnover.
And on the other side, it was about what Carmelo Anthony (30 percent from the field, 14 percent from three) simply could not accomplish.
Latest NBA Playoff Photos
DENVER - MAY 23: Sasha Vujacic #18 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts from the bench late in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 23, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sasha Vujacic
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DENVER - MAY 23: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 23, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kobe Bryant
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DENVER - MAY 23: Kenyon Martin #4 of the Denver Nuggets sits on the bench after losing to the Los Angeles Lakers 103-97 in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 23, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kenyon Martin
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DENVER - MAY 23: Carmelo Anthony #15 of the Denver Nuggets reacts late in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 23, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Carmelo Anthony
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DENVER - MAY 23: Trevor Ariza #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers is fouled by Carmelo Anthony #15 of the Denver Nuggets after Ariza stole the ball late in the fourth quarter in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 23, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Trevor Ariza;Carmelo Anthony
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DENVER - MAY 23: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots over Kenyon Martin #4 of the Denver Nuggets in the second half of Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 23, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kobe Bryant;Kenyon Martin
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DENVER - MAY 23: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 23, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kobe Bryant
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DENVER - MAY 23: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks up after he slides on the floor after going for the ball in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 23, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kobe Bryant
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Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant slides down the court late in the game against the Denver Nuggets during Game 3 of the NBA Western Conference Finals basketball game in Denver May 23, 2009 REUTERS/Rick Wilking (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
Reuters
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant shoots over the top of Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith during the final minutes of Game 3 of the NBA basketball Western Conference finals Saturday, May 23, 2009, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
AP
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-24-2009 @ 1:02AM
la34841 said...
yeah, pau and lamar. you both can talk the talk, now you both need to walk the walk. just do it!
Reply
5-24-2009 @ 1:13AM
Michael gifford said...
next game is a really tough one...Nuggets can be expected to be on fire and Lakers need to not only match it, but be determined to go home with the lead...If they do, it's likely they'll win the series, if they don't it's a crapshoot once again...
Reply
5-24-2009 @ 1:34AM
ampac said...
I want to see Terrence's writing now about Kobe and LeBron and the leadership that each of them demonstrated in their respective team. By the way, I like to watch Lebron plays. He is a great player. But I enjoyed Kobe's much more not only because of his skills in the court but also because of his determination demonstrated in the court and his intelligence exhibited after each game. A great shot. By both. For now. Terrence, you call.
Reply
5-24-2009 @ 1:49AM
dk4xploracity said...
Memo to Stan Van Gundy...Please call Phil Jackson ASAP so he can teach you how to defend / pressure an inbounds pass...Two games Odom has applied the pressure and twice Ariza made the steals...Last night Lebron James caught an uncontested 15 foot(?) pass to hit the game winning shot. Great shot but even more stupid coaching. Enough!
Reply
5-24-2009 @ 12:53PM
skobexx24 said...
your very right lol
5-24-2009 @ 1:54AM
fspitch said...
Gotta take issue with Brett Pollakoff's lead paragraph here. Writers are stupid anymore; no good ones left. Check this out:
"After LeBron James hit that magical shot to down Orlando in Game 2 on Friday, many wondered if Kobe Bryant might have noticed, and have something similarly special in store for us when his team hit the floor in Denver for Game 3 out West."
Excuse me? "Many wondered"? Who exactly? No one wondered. You know who wondered Brett the start-struck writer and a few of his knucklehead colleagues.
No one cares.
Reply
5-24-2009 @ 2:14AM
DM said...
Similarly special?? Lebron's buzzerbeating 3?
If you ask me, Lakers would not have won 2 games if it weren't for Trevor Ariza's late game crucial steals. His steal sealed the deal in Game 3. Ariza's name should be in the headlines, not Kobe's.
Reply
5-24-2009 @ 12:55PM
skobexx24 said...
very right nice for giving credit to trevor and not kobe
5-24-2009 @ 3:22AM
Giles said...
I`m sure there are lots of folks who care if James can match Bryant in the playoffs. Doubt Bryant is one of them at the moment. He`s got his hands full with Anthony, Billups, etc. And James may not make it to the next round. So far the Cavs have lost half their home games and not won a road game this series. That may of course change rapidly. But I expect Bryant will live with it if the Lakers advance and find the spotlight is on Gasol vs. Howard, Odom vs. Lewis, Turkoglu vs. Ariza. Though Courtney Lee was the second best rookie this season. The only rook, other than Rose, to be a significant contributer to a playoff team.
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5-24-2009 @ 5:43AM
Golf History said...
Anthony and Billups. These two guys get those big grins on their faces when they think they've got a game in the bag. They have a smug arrogance about them - until they lose. In 3 games, I have yet to see Bryant with a smile. He didn't smile when they won their last 2 series. For Kobe, it's all business. For Carmelo and Chauncey, it's all gamesmanship. They'll lose this series to the Lakers, and will learn an invaluable lesson from a future hall-of-famer. Don't gloat in the face of your opponent - it will just fuel his fire - as if Kobe needs any more incentive.
Reply
5-24-2009 @ 5:47AM
obamaizadope said...
The Nuggets are getting to the hole far too easily. If Bynum is going to sit for 27 minutes a night, at least have him use up his 6 fouls knocking some people on their butt..
Reply
5-24-2009 @ 12:49PM
williewunderlich said...
For some strange reason the Denver Nuggets' best scorers were ice cold in Game Three, shooting just 1 for 14 from beyond the arc in the first half. The Lakers also made very effective use of Pau Gasol in the post in the second half. Nene and Andersen were simply not able to guard Gasol effectively in the low post. Congrats to the Lakers for playing well and earning the victory down the stretch. On the other hand, I hope the Nuggets prevail in this series so that we don't all have to keep looking at Kobe's ugly, sneering mug throughout the NBA Finals. I'd rather watch the NBA Good Citizen of the year, Chauncey Billups...
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5-24-2009 @ 1:03PM
skobexx24 said...
of course Lakers are gonna win the team is all experienced and i give a lot of credit to Trevor Ariza because of stealing the basketball to times one in game 1 and one in game3 its just amazing and one more thing don't always give credit to Kobe give credit to other people because basketball is not a one man game its a basketball is a team game that's y if you always give credit to Kobe these good and experienced players will fade away...
Reply
5-24-2009 @ 7:03PM
mike said...
I understand throwing some love Ariza's way, however, let's keep it real? Kobe carried the Lakers all night in game 3. Pau helped with 8 points in the 4th along with Arza's 8 points. Tell me something, where is L.Odom's offense at? We need him to finish off the Nuggets. The NBA wants a Kobe vs LeBron matchup, but they only need L.A. vs anyone. The Lakers are the largest money making hoop team for the NBA. So you see, L.A. vs Orlando will still bring in billions of revenue! Go Lakers
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