LOS ANGELES — As the clock flirted with zeroes, Kobe Bryant slithered downcourt toward the free- throw line and heaved an off-balance, mid-air jumper over Kenyon Martin’s outstretched arms. Splash. It was halftime, and the Lakers, trailing by 17 to Denver in the first half, were down only two.
Bryant’s shot was like a beleaguered boxer suddenly cutting the champ’s lip.
The Lakers started the third quarter on a 19-3 run and knocked out the Nuggets early in the fourth, winning 127-99 at the Staples Center.
“We got whipped in the second half,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “As the game went on, we lost the battle of intensity and energy.”
Bryant, an annual MVP candidate who said he wants out of Los Angeles, carried Los Angeles (9-6) on Thursday night with 24 points in just 30 minutes, resting for much of the final quarter.
For the Nuggets (9-7), Carmelo Anthony scored 16 points in the first half but just seven points after halftime, his biggest impact coming with 6:18 left in the game, when he pushed Sasha Vujacic near his throat, causing an ejection of the Nuggets’ flustered all-star.
Told that Anthony thought it was a flop, Vujacic said, “Well, I think I’ve got to give him a DVD of European soccer so he can really see the flops.”
While the Los Angeles Clippers relaxed in Denver, awaiting the Nuggets’ return for tonight’s game, the Nuggets sloshed through their game at the Clippers’ home arena, playing inconsistent basketball in the second half.
After winning six consecutive games, the Nuggets have lost four of their past five, the only win coming against miserable Minnesota.
An hour before Thursday’s tipoff, with a mischievous “Who me?” smile, Karl said that defensive stopper Yakhouba Diawara was out of the Nuggets’ lineup — and the high-octane Anthony Carter was in.
“We’re going to start out running, baby!” Karl said.
And for one half, that was exactly the case. The Nuggets shot 51 percent in the first half, scoring 57 points with just nine free-throw attempts (making five). To that point, it was a track meet, with the Lakers down 57-55 at the half.
Carter got the start because Diawara had been ineffective offensively in the past five games, scoring a total of 12 points with three bagels. Against the Lakers, Diawara didn’t play at all. Carter finished with five points, three rebounds and four assists.
Nuggets forward Martin, who missed the previous game with a bone bruise in his right knee, returned to the lineup, scoring two points with six rebounds in his 21 minutes.
For a day, at least, the dark cloud above the Lakers made room for sunshine. While Bryant’s discontent with the team lingers, the team announced that coach Phil Jackson agreed to a two-year contract extension. The old coach, who has battled health problems of late, decided to dedicate himself to the murky franchise. Before the game, he spoke softly about respect for Bryant and his budding youngsters, like nothing was ever wrong.
But after Thursday’s performance, why would anyone think that? The Lakers have made a point of beating good teams this season and losing to bad ones, and Thursday they beat a talented but vulnerable Nuggets squad.
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
