SAN DIEGO — The purple- and gold-clad crowd taunted the Birdman mercilessly, and with a devilish grin, Chris Andersen began to flap his colorful arms like bird wings, egging on the crowd like a pro wrestling villain.
Friday’s Nuggets-Lakers game was a preseason game disguised as a playoff game. During the 119-105 Denver win at San Diego Sports Arena, this iniquitous second-quarter sequence began when Denver’s Andersen bumped Lamar Odom while running down the court.
Moments later, it turned into a shoving match in the low post, with teammates — and coaches — desperately separating the two. Suddenly, Denver’s Kenyon Martin jumped into the fray, barking at Odom, forcing the Nuggets to split forces in containing the fuming forwards.
“There was a lot of tension, flaring high, and that made everyone more alert and brought out the fight in us,” Andersen said. “We rose to the occasion and never stopped playing hard. . . . For something like that to happen, it brings the team together.”
It’s nice to know that when Denver plays L.A., it’s always May. Friday’s final preseason game included trash talk and flying elbows and vicious picks and six technical fouls. The intensity was infectious.
And then consider that Denver rested Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, while the Lakers rested Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, and coach Phil Jackson trotted out Kobe Bryant for just 10 minutes.
The two squads meet next on Nov. 13 at the Pepsi Center.
On this Friday, a night fit for the reserves, Ty Lawson was resplendent. He played 27 minutes, scoring 29 points with six assists and five steals.
“I think he just got to the rim, and they never could figure out how far to get away from him,” Denver coach George Karl said. “It’s the double-edged sword of him scoring or somebody else dunking. He makes us go. I don’t think I’ve ever had a rookie have a game like that.”
And Denver’s J.R. Smith, who rested the night before, was promised “big minutes” from Karl, and Smith maximized the 41 minutes he was given, scoring 18 points.
And now, with Denver opening its regular season, it’s time for the games that matter. Then again, Friday’s game seemed to matter a whole lot.
S-Jax acquisition unlikely.
There has been some buzz around the NBA that Denver is interested in Golden State’s Stephen Jackson, but an NBA source said there haven’t been any significant conversations about acquiring the forward.
Even if Denver wanted him, he would be difficult to acquire. The trade exception is now at $7.4 million, which is less than Jackson’s $7.6 contract, so Denver couldn’t use the exception to get Jackson.
DENVER (119)
Afflalo 5-8 0-1 12, Martin 5-6 1-2 12, Nene 2-4 0-0 4, Carter 1-3 0-0 2, Smith 6-20 4-6 18, Andersen 6-11 3-4 15, Graham 1-2 1-1 3, Lawson 8-12 13-16 29, Balkman 5-5 1-1 11, Petro 2-3 0-0 4, Allen 4-5 1-2 9. Totals 45-79 24-33 119.
L.A. LAKERS (105)
Artest 3-7 1-1 7, Odom 1-6 2-6 5, Mbenga 6-6 2-2 14, Fisher 2-4 0-1 6, Bryant 2-4 2-2 6, Farmar 4-13 1-2 11, Powell 2-5 4-4 8, Walton 4-10 2-2 10, Vujacic 5-9 5-5 18, Brown 3-7 2-2 9, Morrison 4-8 2-2 11. Totals 36-79 23-29 105.
Denver 29 28 27 35 — 119
L.A. Lakers 25 24 22 34 — 105
3-point goals — Denver 5-15 (Afflalo 2-4, Smith 2-7, Martin 1-1, Lawson 0-3), L.A. Lakers 10-28 (Vujacic 3-6, Fisher 2-3, Farmar 2-7, Brown 1-1, Odom 1-3, Morrison 1-3, Walton 0-1, Powell 0-1, Artest 0-3). Fouled out — None.
Rebounds — Denver 52 (Andersen 9), L.A. Lakers 40 (Odom 9). Assists — Denver 29 (Smith 7), L.A. Lakers 24 (Artest 5). Total Fouls — Denver 19, L.A. Lakers 25. Technical fouls — Allen, Andersen, Martin, Denver defensive three second 2, Farmar, Odom, Vujacic. Flagrant fouls — Graham, Morrison. A — 13,586 (13,741).
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
