Series Index:

Game 1: Lakers 128, Nuggets 114 at Los Angeles		Game recap & pictures
Game 2: Lakers 122, Nuggets 107 at Los Angeles		Game recap & pictures
Game 3: Lakers 102, Nuggets 84 at Denver		Game recap & pictures
Game 4: Lakers 107, Nuggets 101 at Denver		Game recap & pictures

Picture Gallery (LADN)

4/26/08 - PEPSI CENTER - DENVER. The general belief was that the Nuggets would show something extra in their own arena, but it really was too easy for the Lakers, who defeated Denver 102-84 to make the series 3-0, a situation that no team has recovered from before.

Kobe Bryant led his team with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists and everybody else played good defense, specially Radmanovic did a good job on Anthony and Fisher on Iverson, and the Nuggets top scorers (who were 3rd and 4th in scoring in the NBA this season) combined for just 31 points with an horrendous 10-for-38 shooting.

Coach Karl had asked more defensive commitment, ball movement and attacking the basket early in the game to involve the fans and put some pressure on the Lakers, but nothing of that happened, the first half ended with L.A. leading 53-46 which was not so bad for the Nuggets the way his players were shooting. After that, they looked defeated and the game looked like a meaningless regular season game, but in fact it was more like the end of the season for Denver.

And the night was so sad for the Nuggets that by the finals seconds, the remaining home crowd wasn't even enough to shout down the MVP chants coming from some Lakers fans.

The Quotes

Phil Jackson (LAL Coach): “I thought our defense packed it in on them, but they missed some easy shots, I told the team at halftime, ‘They’re not going to shoot like this for the whole game. They missed some close shots, some shots they usually make. We’ll have to play better defense in the second half. But they never showed up. They never got it going."

Carmelo Anthony (Nuggets): "In a game like tonight, on our home court, us giving up as a whole is uncalled for. We quit. Everybody... from the coaches to the players, we quit. And I said it."

Allen Iverson (Nuggets): "I've been in a lot of playoff series, but I don't think I've ever been this frustrated... we did nothing to change. We kept doing the same thing."

Highlights