Lakers 92, Nuggets 89
Andrew Bynum had 29 points and 13 rebounds in his season debut as the Los Angeles Lakers earned their third straight win, a 92-89 triumph over the visiting Denver Nuggets on Saturday.
The Nuggets had no answer for the seven-footer, who missed the first four games of the season due to a suspension. Bynum shot 13-of-18 from the field added a pair of blocks as the Lakers moved above .500 for the first time.
Kobe Bryant added 17 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in the victory.
Al Harrington led the way with 21 points in a reserve role for the Nuggets.
Denver maintained a slim lead throughout the fourth quarter until Kobe Bryant's two free throws evened things at 89-89 with 2:18 remaining. Bynum blocked Nene's layup attempt at the other end, then calmly finished off the ensuing fast break with the go-ahead layup.
The Nuggets squandered several chances to draw even or pull ahead, with Ty Lawson missing a pair of free throws and Al Harrington and Danilo Gallinari bricking 3-point attempts in the final minute. Gallinari had one final opportunity to tie the game, but he missed a driving layup with one second left.
Neither team led by more than six points in a topsy-turvy first half which ended with the Lakers enjoying a 46-45 edge. Los Angeles used consecutive long jumpers from Josh McRoberts and Pau Gasol to open up a seven-point advantage late in the third quarter, but the Nuggets closed on a 15-6 run to take a two-point edge into the fourth.