LOS ANGELES — Another game, another fourth-quarter meltdown.
As the Nuggets blew the game on Wednesday, they blew their tops — again. J.R. Smith was assessed a technical foul. Allen Iverson, who picked up two technical fouls and was ejected in the first game, picked up another in Game 2.
It appears that frustrated Nuggets become disjointed Nuggets that can’t pull themselves back together. Smith said the Nuggets were playing “five on eight,” in reference to referee calls the team thought were questionable, and admitted that might be getting into the players’ heads.
“It’s hard not to,” Smith said. “When you’re in a tough game like this, we know the Lakers are already a good team. So, you know, when they make calls like that, it makes it even tougher.”
Carmelo Anthony, however, dismissed the open frustration being a factor.
“It’s a seven-game series,” Anthony said. “If we allow ourselves to get frustrated in the second game of this series, then we don’t deserve to be playing anymore.”
Nene back.
Nene played for the first time since April 5 when he started the second quarter in place of center Marcus Camby. His performance was lukewarm.
According to Nuggets coach George Karl, the biggest asset to having Nene back is his size.
“Size is the first thing that comes to mind,” Karl said. “Everybody knows he’s a very spirited and talented kid.”
Nene missed the Nuggets’ last seven games with a strained groin, and said getting back in the groove was tough.
“I was tired,” said Nene, who played seven minutes. “It was hard to breathe. It was like summer league. But I’ll be OK.”
Take me home.
Entering Wednesday’s game, the Nuggets had two things going against them: They were on the road, and they were playing, of course, a Western Conference playoff team.
The Nuggets were 17-24 on the road during the regular season, but in road games against Western Conference playoff teams, they were just 1-12, including two losses at the Lakers.
As for playing at home, Karl looks forward to Saturday’s Game 3 at the Pepsi Center, where Denver was 33-8 this season.
“It’s going to be great. Denver fans are cool,” he said. “Ever since I’ve been there, I think they’ve been a top-10 crowd. And we’re going to need them to be a top-10 crowd. We don’t need any Lakers fans being heard.”
Two-oh!
All four first-round series in the Western Conference are 2-0.
The Nuggets and the other teams trailing are facing tough odds. The teams with a 2-0 lead win a best-of-seven series 93.6 percent of the time in the NBA.
Karl vs. Karl.
With Ronny Turiaf, who averaged 6.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 18.7 minutes this season for Los Angeles, out with tonsillitis, rookie guard Coby Karl was activated by the Lakers.
Whe he entered late in the game, it was the first time a son played against his father in the playoffs.
Chris Dempsey and Benjamin Hochman, The Denver Post; The Associated Press and Los Angeles Daily News
