As big wins go, this ranks right at the top of the list for the Nuggets this season.
The Nuggets got their first win over the L.A. Lakers in two seasons, 90-79 Friday night at the Pepsi Center, snapping a nine-game losing streak to their Western Conference nemesis.
It is the Nuggets’ second consecutive win after losing three straight.
Offensively, the Nuggets weren’t stellar, but defensively Denver fit the bill. The game was completely different from the start compared to Monday night’s debacle against the Celtics. On this night, the Nuggets played focused, tough basketball.
The Lakers came into the contest having blown out Phoenix the night before, but struggled to hit shots in the first half, much of it due to clingy Nuggets defense. The Lakers hit just 6-of-23 shots from the field in the first quarter and made just 31 percent in the first half.
L.A.’s frigid start allowed the Nuggets to get out to a 29-19 lead, but the Lakers cut the deficit down to just six (46-40) at halftime.
The Lakers got down to business in the third, taking a 51-50 lead on a Kobe Bryant free throw with eight minutes left in the period. Both teams traded jabs until the Nuggets ended the third with a three-point lead.
Chauncey Billups scored 14 points in the third quarter to keep the Nuggets in front and finished with 22, the same total as J.R. Smith.
Carmelo Anthony had just 12 points but recorded his 11th double-double of the season by grabbing 12 rebounds.
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers, whose bench was outplayed by the Nuggets’ most of the night, with 29 points.
