Kobe Bryant scored 31 points Monday night, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 107-101 victory over the Denver Nuggets and a sweep of their first-round NBA playoff series, as reported by the Associated Press.
The Nuggets became the first 50-win team to be swept in the first round of the playoffs.
The Lakers will meet the winner of the Utah Jazz-Houston Rockets series.
Via AP
Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets
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While many Nugget players decided not to talk to the media on Sunday, those who did refuted suggestions from Carmelo Anthony that they quit in game 3 of the team's opening round series with the Lakers, the Denver Post is reporting.
"I don't think the team quit," forward Linas Kleiza said. "I know you guys want to get guys when they're frustrated and say things they don't want to say. Nobody quit. We're all together."
From Carmelo Anthony's view, the team looked lifeless in the 102-84 loss.
"I don't think he meant it," Kleiza said. "Nobody quit. Nobody quit on each other. It's just him being the competitor he is. Sometimes things like that come out of people's mouths after tough losses."
Added forward Eduardo Najera, "That's just frustration. I wouldn't necessarily call it quitting. Different guys, they are going to have different opinions, and you've got to respect that."
"But I felt that the game, we were there the whole time. Obviously, we got down 20, and it was a different mood, of course. I wouldn't necessarily call it quitting, but that's just his opinion."
Via Denver Post
Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers
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- LAL 102, DEN 84
The Los Angeles Lakers are just one win away from sweeping the Denver Nuggets after dominating Game Three on Saturday afternoon.
Kobe Bryant had 22 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds and Lamar Odom tallied 12 points and 8 boards for the Lakers, who shot 46% from the floor and forced sixteen Denver turnovers.
Carmelo Anthony posted 16 points and 7 rebounds and Linas Kleiza added 15 points and 9 boards for the Nuggets, who made just 37% of their shots and outrebounded Los Angeles by twelve.
The Lakers had a 30-18 scoring advantage in the third quarter, putting the game out of reach before the Nuggets could make a run.
Game Four will be Monday night in Denver as the Nuggets look to avoid a four-game sweep at the hands of the Lakers.
Game FIC Scores
Kobe Bryant, LAL - 18.4
Luke Walton, LAL - 17.1
Marcus Camby, DEN - 12.3
Carmelo Anthony, DEN - 3.4
Via Andrew Perna/RealGM
Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets
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Lakers Apr 2008 Archive
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The Denver Post | Apr 25, 2008
Linas Kleiza will start for the second-straight game when the Nuggets take on the Lakers at home on Saturday afternoon.
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AP | Apr 24, 2008
The Lakers defeated the Nuggets 122-107 on Wednesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round NBA playoff series.
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The Los Angeles Daily News | Apr 22, 2008
Phil Jackson admitted for the first time on Monday that chances are Andrew Bynum will not play again this season.
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The Los Angeles Daily News | Apr 22, 2008
Just one year ago Kobe Bryant was about as unhappy as you could be with the Lakers, but now he wants to remain with the team for the foreseeable future.
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The Rocky Mountain News | Apr 21, 2008
George Karl admitted on Sunday that Denver was hoping to play the Hornets and not the top-seeded Lakers in the first round.
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | Apr 20, 2008
Pau Gasol led the Los Angeles Lakers to an important Game One victory over the Denver Nuggets, 128-114, on Sunday afternoon.
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ESPN | Apr 20, 2008
Heading into their playoff series, the top-seeded Lakers claim that they are in no way overlooking the eighth-seeded Nuggets.
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The Denver Post | Apr 19, 2008
Nene is doubtful for the Nuggets' game against the Lakers on Sunday afternoon.
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Tom Kristian Braaten/RealGM Forum Members | Apr 19, 2008
When the actual awards were made official, it was very interesting to see how close the fan votes were to the official ones.
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Denver Post | Apr 18, 2008
It appears the Nuggets will be returning to Denver between games 1 and 2 of their opening round series against the L.A. Lakers.
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RealGM Staff Report | Apr 17, 2008
The Magic’s Hedo Turkoglu and the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month for April.
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RealGM Staff Report | Apr 17, 2008
The Celtics’ Doc Rivers and the Lakers’ Phil Jackson today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month of April.
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | Apr 16, 2008
The Lakers clinched the first overall slot with a victory over the Kings, while the Hornets locked up second with a thumping of the Clippers. Read about the seeding and more in the RealGM Daily Rundown for April 15th’s games!
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | Apr 16, 2008
The Los Angeles Lakers clinched the best record in the Western Conference with a dominant win over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.
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The Akron Beacon Journal | Apr 15, 2008
LeBron James has heard his name in the MVP conversation, but he said on Monday that he thinks Kobe Bryant deserves to win the award.
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | Apr 14, 2008
The Lakers sit alone atop the Western Conference after downing the Spurs rather easily on Sunday afternoon. Read about the Lakers rise and more in the RealGM Daily Rundown for April 13th’s games!
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | Apr 13, 2008
The Lakers stand alone atop the Western Conference after a big 106-85 win over the Spurs on Sunday afternoon.
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The Los Angeles Times | Apr 12, 2008
Lakers' forward Trevor Ariza is doubtful for the start of the playoffs after a CT scan on Friday revealed that the broken bone in his right foot has not fulled healed.
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The Orange County Register | Apr 12, 2008
A knee specialist has not cleared Andrew Bynum for practice, and he isn't sure if the second round of the playoffs is an ideal target for his return.
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | Apr 12, 2008
The Lakers clinched the Pacific Division title on Friday night with a 107-104 victory over the Hornets at the STAPLES Center.
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HoopsWorld | Apr 11, 2008
Trevor Ariza is scheduled to have a detailed diagnostic exam on his right foot Friday to determine if he can return to the court.
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USA Today | Apr 10, 2008
A visit to a knee specialist in New York did not see Laker bigman Andrew Bynum cleared to practice.
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | Apr 10, 2008
The West has yet to be won with less than a week left in the season. Read about the tight race towards the playoffs and more in the RealGM Daily Rundown for April 9th’s games!
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The Los Angeles Times | Apr 9, 2008
Andrew Bynum could return for the Lakers on Sunday when they take on the Spurs.
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The Los Angeles Times | Apr 8, 2008
Kobe Bryant does not think the NBA should push the age limit up to twenty.
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The Los Angeles Times | Apr 7, 2008
For the first time since January, Andrew Bynum traveled with the Lakers on Sunday night when they battled the Kings.
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ESPN | Apr 6, 2008
Laker forward Luke Walton missed the team's game against Sacramento on Sunday night with a strained right hamstring.
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RealGM Staff Report | Apr 5, 2008
The Lakers announced Saturday that they have re-assigned rookie Coby Karl to their NBA Development League affiliate Los Angeles D-Fenders.
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | Apr 5, 2008
The Hornets, 76ers, Lakers, Wizards and Raptors all clinched playoff berths on Friday night.
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L.A. Times | Apr 5, 2008
When asked if center Andrew Bynum may miss the rest of the regular season and then return for the playoffs, Laker Coach Phil Jackson said that it was a real possibility.
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The Los Angeles Times | Apr 3, 2008
Mitch Kupchak doesn't anticipate making any drastic moves this offseason.
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The Los Angeles Times | Apr 2, 2008
Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak has done a great job of turning into an L.A. favorite this season, but he still doesn't know what the team will do in regard to re-signing Lamar Odom this offseason.
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L.A. Times | Apr 2, 2008
Laker forward Pau Gasol underwent a full practice on Tuesday and is expected to be in uniform on Wednesday night when Portland comes to town.
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Press Release | Apr 2, 2008
Ira Newble will remain with the Lakers for the rest of the season.
