Picture Gallery (LAT)

May 10 - Denver. Kobe Bryant played despite being sick but he was the only Laker that showed some pride and the Nuggets won 113-96 at Denver to force a game 7 that will be played on Saturday.

The Lakers couldn't make a point in the first 3 and a half minutes to fall behind 13-0 and allow Denver to get their gears running. Everything went downhill after that. L.A. barely managed to stay in the game in the first half and went to halftime trailing by 9 but then the Nuggets opened the third quarter with a 9-0 run and the game was already over despite Kobe's willingness to stay in the court to give some spark to a team that does not look like a championship team at all.

Kobe who ended with 31 points, did was he always does, playing every ball as if it was the last one even after being sick with an stomach virus all day and needed intravenous fluids before the game. He also took all the shots nobody in the backcourt is willing to take. Blake, Sessions, Barnes and everybody else on the perimeter just move the ball and refuse to take the responsibility of providing some scoring. This situation allows Denver to throw all their body to Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol, whose confidence is lower than ever. Gasol ended with 3 points missing 9 of his 10 shots. Bynum had 10 points and 16 rebounds but made just 4 of 11 shots.

Ty Lawson scored 15 of his career-playoff high 32 points in the first quarter, including 4 of his 5 three-pointers. His Nuggets led by as many as 101-73 in the fourth quarter before the Lakers reserves reduced the deficit in garbage time.

Ron Artest will be able to play in game 7 after being suspended for 7 games and hopefully he will inject this team some life in a win-or-go-home game that could mean a very unexpected end for the Lakers 2012 season.