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– Host: Amy Halvorsen @AmyHalvo
Turns out close-out games are not so easy. Last night the Nuggets beat the Lakers 113-96, with an embarrassing performance from LA. Kobe had gastroenteritis, and took two bags of intravenous fluids before the game and two MORE at halftime. Even with gastroenteritis, Kobe was the top performer for the Lakers with 31 points.
The Lakers looked sluggish at best on D. And I think “@AngryLakersFan” summed it up best: “The Lakers strategy on defense is to run as far away as possible from open shooters.” To be honest, I wish the Lakers had been running anywhere. They looked painfully slow next to the fast-paced Nuggets.
Denver’s Ty Lawson was on fire, scoring a career-playoff high of 32 points. Corey Brewer added 18 points, and Kenneth Faried had 15. It was another huge night for Javale McGee. His mom was loving it. Kobe got a flagrant-1 on Manimal, Ken Faried, while trying to prevent a fast-break basket.
The Lakers face the Nuggets at Staples Center on Saturday at 7:30 PM on TNT. The winner advances to Oklahoma City. The Lakers have won 82 percent of their post-season home games… and Metta World Peace will return to the court after Elbowgate. This will be the Nuggets first all-or-nothing playoff game since they lost to Utah in Game 7 of the 1994 Conference Semi-Finals.
What do the Lakers need to do to win on Saturday? Let us know in the comments below.
Onto the rest of the league. Last night, the 76ers closed out the top-seeded Bulls 79-78. The Bulls rallied in the fourth quarter, but ultimately, the 76ers went on to win with two last second free-throws. The 76ers will face the Celtics, who edged out the Hawks, 83-80 in a Game Six that came right down to the wire. The Celtics will have home court advantage. Tomorrow, the Clippers will try to close out Memphis.
