Picture Gallery (LAT)

Apr 29 - Staples Center, Los Angeles. While Kobe Bryant scored 31 points and Andrew Bynum tied a Playoff record with 10 blocked shots, the Lakers had no problems and defeated the Nuggets 103-88.

Playing against the NBA's highest-scoring team the Lakers never trailed, took advantage of their size difference and controlled the tempo of the game. The Nuggets never found a way to get in rhythm to execute their preferred fast break style. Ty Lawson, their top scorer during the regular season scored just 7 points.

The highlights of the night were provided by Bynum who blocked shot after shot and in the fourth quarter when he got his 10th block surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's playoff franchise-record of 9 and tied the NBA Playoff record set previously by Utah's Mark Eaton in 1985 and matched later by Hakeem Olajuwon in 1990. Bynum's presence in the paint was very important for the Lakers success it was rewarded with the first triple-double for the Lakers since Magic Johnson in the 1991 NBA Finals. Almost equally important was the all-around game of Pau Gasol who finished with 13 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists.

Bryant couldn't find his scoring rhythm in the first half but he didn't force it eaither and he had plenty of help. Devin Ebanks --playing in place of suspended Metta World Peace-- scored all of his 12 points in those first two periods, Steve Blake made three 3 pointers in the second quarter, and the Lakers went to the halftime rest leading by 10 points, 50-40. Then Kobe scored 23 points in the second half. He's the third-leading scorer in NBA playoff history, trailing only Michael Jordan and Abdul-Jabbar.

Ramon Sessions had a solid game and finished with 14 points and 5 assists in 29 minutes in his first playoff appearance. Showing a good repertoire of post moves, Danilo Gallinari led Denver with 19 points.