The Lakers just could not get into a groove. It was already bad from the National Anthem with the microphone having malfunctions. After the anthem was sung, the crowd was booing. Way to start off the game, but it was worse to end the game.
"We just didn't get the game under control, especially in the fourth quarter," Lakers center Pau Gasol said. "We just gave them too many chances to the point where they believed they could take the game. And they took it. They're a very versatile team and they've got a lot of guys that contribute in different ways."
Kobe Bryant had 28 points, but it wasn't enough as the Lakers fall closer back for the first seed, now two-and-a-half games behind the San Antonio Spurs, who just topped the Phoenix Suns to break a six-game losing-streak. However, the Lakers can still finish out as the best in the Western Conference if they continue to play they way they've been, as they are now 19-2 since the All-Star break.
"I told the team we beat ourselves, but it's not the whole story," coach Phil Jackson said. "I think Denver is very aggressive, and they created the 20 turnovers that really hurt us in the course of the ballgame. It turned out to be a very physical game. Denver was able to come out in the second half and shoot the ball pretty well."
The Lakers have a solid shot for getting the first seed. They will face San Antonio next in the second-to-last game of the season for them. Six more games left for Los Angeles to pull this thing out.
Gasol had 16 points and twelve rebounds in the game while Lamar Odom had 17 points and seven rebounds. Andrew Bynum had a stellar 16-board performance.
With 4:40 remaining, point guard Derek Fisher nailed a 19-footer to put the Lakers up 83-82. That would be the last team they would lead in the game. After that, Raymond Felton hit a three, which would start an 8-0 run and an outburst from Kenyon Martin. Martin sealed the deal by rebounding Nene's missed free-throw and putting it back up with 11.3 seconds left.
"We don't have a closer that's going to make a big-time shot, but we have guys that are ready for the challenge," said coach George Karl. "As a team and a coaching staff, we have to work together to try to get good shots in that situation."
Denver faces the Oklahoma City Thunder next while Los Angeles faces the Utah Jazz.
