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Lakers use comeback to bounce Nuggets
Source: Agencies |
March 2, 2010, Tuesday
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THE NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers produced a second half comeback to beat the Denver Nuggets 95-89 on Sunday, and record their first victory over their Western Conference rivals this season.
Lamar Odom recorded 20 points and 12 rebounds off the bench and Kobe Bryant made up for a poor shooting day with 12 assists as the Lakers came from 11 points down in the third quarter to triumph in a clash of the top teams in the Western Conference.
"Mentally we had to let them know that if we play the right way we can beat them," Odom said after his team had been routed in two previous meetings with the Nuggets (39-20).
"Teams you feel like you're going to see down the road, you want to let them know you can beat them."
Los Angeles (45-15) trailed for most of the game before Bryant, who made just three baskets from 17 attempts from the floor, made two free throws to give his team a 91-89 edge with 3:02 remaining.
Carmelo Anthony scored a team-high 21 points for Denver before fouling out with 2:19 remaining.
Bryant struggles
Bryant struggled from the outside but was routinely double teamed and managed to find his teammates for easy scores including Pau Gasol, who scored 15 points and made 14 rebounds.
"I had to get into playoff mode a little bit, we put the ball in my hand and just let me make the decision," Bryant said.
"I caught the ball in the post and made them double me."
Chauncey Billups scored 17 points, while Arron Afflalo added 16 for the Nuggets, who shot just 35 percent from the field.
In other games, it was: Spurs 113, Suns 110; Mavericks 108, Hornets 100; Hawks 106, Bucks 102, OT; Magic 96, Heat 80; Wizards 89, Nets 85; Thunder 119, Raptors 99; and Kings 97, Clippers 92.
In San Antonio, Richard Jefferson scored 20 points in his best game since losing his starting job as the San Antonio Spurs beat Phoenix 113-110 on Sunday to end the Suns' five-game winning streak.
Amare Stoudemire had a season-high 41 points and added 12 rebounds for Phoenix, but Jefferson and the Spurs hung on late to hand the Suns only their second loss since the All-Star break.
In Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki scored 36 points and Caron Butler had 19 in his return to the Dallas lineup as the Mavericks extended their winning streak to seven.
The Hornets had been behind by 25 points.
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