Lakers 111, Nuggets 103
Kobe Bryant recorded his 21st career triple-double with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists as visiting Los Angeles snapped a three-game slide.
Carlos Boozer had 19 points and nine rebounds off the bench and Ronnie Price was 5-of-6 from 3-point range en route to 18 points for the Lakers, who made a season high 14 3s in 25 attempts. Wesley Johnson added four 3-pointers and finished with 16 points as Los Angeles ended a seven-game losing streak in the series.
Jusuf Nurkic posted a career-high 16 points off the bench to lead Denver, which has dropped four of five. Ty Lawson had 16 points and nine assists while Nate Robinson tallied seven of his 13 points in the fourth quarter before picking up two crucial technical fouls in the waning moments for the Nuggets.
Bryant made his first four shots as the Lakers opened a 54-40 lead and assisted on Johnson's 3-pointer that made it 62-42 in the last minute of the first half. Price's second triple of the third quarter ignited an 11-0 burst that made it 81-58 but Los Angeles finally went cold, going without a basket for nearly six minutes spanning the third and fourth quarters to allow Denver to get within 83-76 with 11 minutes to go.
Robinson had five points in a 7-0 burst that cut the deficit to 101-96 with four minutes left but was whistled for his first technical after Bryant was fouled beyond the arc, giving the Lakers superstar the first of five straight free throws. With Los Angeles up eight with 1:36 left, Robinson picked up his second technical to give Bryant another easy make and the Nuggets never got closer than seven points in the final moments.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Nuggets F Darrell Arthur sat for the sixth time in seven games due to a leg issue. ... The triple-double is the second of the season for Bryant, who was playing his second game since taking three off to rest. ... Nurkic had two of Denver's 13 steals and two of its seven blocked shots.