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)

4/28/2008 - PEPSI CENTER - DENVER.4/28: The Lakers and Kobe Bryant in particular, woke up in the fourth quarter and with a 107-101 victory at Denver put an end to the Nuggets season, moving this way to the Conference Semis for the first time since 2004. The team didn't make the playoffs in 2005 and the then went out fast 2006 and 2007.

It was also the Lakers first sweep since the 2002 Finals, and although the Nuggets fought until the end this time, the Lakers have in Kobe the best player you can choose to close a game. He scored 14 of his 31 points in the final 5:31 minutes.

L.A. led all the first half, comfortably riding on a 10-point cushion. Then Denver tried to end their season with some pride after an embarrassing game 3. They closed the gap in the second half and even had a couple of leads while the Lakers looked numbed, scoring only 15 points in the third quarter.

The Lakers lack of focus was obvious with some unusual bad passes and two fouls committed by Bryant to J.R. Smith who both times was attempting 3-pointers. The second time, Smith made his 3 free-throws to tie the game at 88 with 5:56 to go. But it was the wake up call for Kobe, who after that scored 14 of his team final 19 points.

With 2::38 to go and Kobe absolutely on fire, he attracted defenders to the paint and then dished the ball to a wide open Luke Walton, who again was important in the key moments making a 3-pointer that gave the Lakers a 100-96 lead.

Pau Gasol, who won the first playoff series of his career, added 21 points, two of them with a dunk with 22 seconds left and the margin reduced to 103-101. Lamar Odom had 14 points and 12 rebounds and Vladimir Radmanovic scored 12 points.

Allen Iverson (22 points) and Carmelo Anthony (21) shot better than the previous game but it was J.R. Smith (26) who made his points in the right moment to try to lift the game of his dysfunctional team.

The Quotes

George Karl (Denver Coach): "I don't know if I'd go bet on the Lakers, but they're damn good."

Kobe Bryant (Lakers): ""I've been fortunate enough to win three titles, so for me, getting out of the first round is not that big of a deal. Now it kind of feels like I'm back home. This is where we belong. Derek (Fisher) and I kind of looked at each other in the locker room and it was kind of like, 'OK, this smells familiar for us.' Lamar (Odom) and Pau (Gasol) and those guys were excited, as they should be, to get out of the first round. And we are as well, but we're playing for bigger stakes"

Luke Walton (Lakers): "He (Kobe) is unbelievable, it’s always so comforting knowing you have the best closer in basketball. They were making huge plays down the stretch, but Kobe came right back to do whatever it took: huge plays, steals or an incredible shots like that fadeaway over Kenyon Martin from the top of the key. He wanted it badly tonight and we followed his lead"

Highlights