경기결과 [PO Quarterfinals Game 5 Preview & Review] @ Los Angeles Lakers → Nuggets Hang On, Extend Series(H/L)

[Colorado-Denver]

(2-3[38-28/W6], Northwest 2위) 102-99 (3-2[41-25/W3], Pacific 1위) → Lakers 3-2

http://www.nba.com/playoffs/2012/westseries3/index.html?ls=st&g=5&t=gs

LOS ANGELES (AP) -

Kobe Bryant isn't eager to correct a long-standing misconception about his career.

People always assume he's determined to take the Los Angeles Lakers' biggest late-game shots. He's actually just as comfortable setting up his teammates to be heroes by drawing a double-team.

He did it to the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series, and he'd be happy to do it again when the Lakers go for the clinching victory in Game 5 on Tuesday night.

Although he's pretty sure it's an open secret in NBA coaching circles, Bryant acknowledges he's been a decoy and a facilitator for years when Derek Fisher and Robert Horry were his sharpshooting teammates on the perimeter.

Fisher has been replaced by Ramon Sessions and Steve Blake this season, but the Lakers' late-game poise and strategy haven't changed, as evidenced late in the toughest game of their first-round series. In the final minute of Game 4, Pau Gasol set up Sessions' tiebreaking 3-pointer before Bryant fed Blake for the back-breaking 3-pointer and a 3-1 series lead.

"It's great to see them make those big shots," Bryant said after the Lakers' practice at their training complex Monday. "(Other teams) will continue to sit in there and force me to kick the ball out to shooters, as evidenced by Derek knocking big shot after big shot. No matter how many big shots he made, teams still left him."

The Nuggets were paying attention, and the final minute of Game 4 drew attention to what's considered a problem for Denver's balanced roster: There's no obvious leader to take a key late-game shot. But that's not what the Nuggets need, according to Bryant.

"It's not really about having one guy," Bryant said. "It's about having somebody that's going to command double-teams and free everybody up. That's really what it's about."

The Lakers have done it impressively in the last few weeks, particularly while Bryant rested his bruised shin for eight late-season games. They can book a second-round date with Oklahoma City by eliminating Denver for the third time in five postseasons.

"Hopefully we finish them off," center Andrew Bynum said. "I don't want to go back to Denver. ... Closeout games are actually kind of easy. Teams will fold if you come out and play hard."

Bryant scored 69 points in the series' two games at Staples Center, but just 44 in two games in Denver. Instead, he doubled his assists total and encouraged his teammates to step up.

"It's as exciting to see Kobe make a pass at the right time and trust his guys," coach Mike Brown said. "In the past a lot, it's been Kobe, Kobe, Kobe, but we've gone to Pau a lot, to Sessions. The guys have seen me trust second-unit guys down the stretch."

While Denver doesn't have the Lakers' star power, Los Angeles doesn't have the Nuggets' depth. The Lakers are trying to develop their supporting cast during a transitional season from Phil Jackson's strategies to Brown's innovations.

Although the bit players hit several big shots in Game 4, the Lakers' bench has been largely ineffective in recent weeks outside of Jordan Hill, who has developed abruptly into a dynamic rebounder and energy player. Most notably, Matt Barnes is a dismal 1 for 14 on 3-pointers against Denver, failing to step into an increased role during Metta World Peace's suspension.

But the Nuggets' superior bench hasn't translated into success, largely because Denver still can't impose its speedy tempo on the bulky, disciplined Lakers. JaVale McGee and Kenneth Faried have gathered a wealth of knowledge during the first playoff series of their careers, but they're already facing elimination for the first time.

"It's not over, and it's a series that we can win Game 5," Denver coach George Karl said. "We should have won (Game 4) in a lot of ways. We gave a lot of good effort and had a lot of good results, but we got beat by a good team."

Veteran Al Harrington is happy his young teammates still believe they have a chance to shock the Lakers, who never trailed at home at any point in the first two games of the series.

"They're so naive, they definitely do," Harrington said jokingly. "I definitely believe we have a chance. If we can get Game 5, I definitely don't think the Lakers want to come back here to play a Game 6. If we can get Game 5, I think 6 can maybe take care of itself, and hopefully make it a seven-game series."

Of his first playoff experience, Faried said he has learned "it's hard, that it's intense. You've got to bring it every night. You can't have the little mix-ups that you had in March or February. You've got to stay focused. You've got to bring it every night."

The Nuggets hadn't lost perspective on their dire situation, taking a moment during practice in Colorado to chuckle at the memory of the 20-year-old woman who wandered onto the court during Game 4. Faried thanked the woman for giving him a breather while she apparently called for former Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin.

"I gave her his number," Harrington said. "Hopefully they can contact."

Nuggets avoid elimination, hold off Lakers 102-99

너게츠가 탈락을 피하며, 레이커스에 102-99 승!

LOS ANGELES (AP) -

JaVale McGee went out with the attitude that Game 5 was the last game of his life. The other Denver Nuggets played their own mental games, some drawing inspiration from Lakers center Andrew Bynum's comment about how closeout playoff games can sometimes be easy.

The Nuggets went deep into their motivational wells for an impressive win at Staples Center, and not even Kobe Bryant could prevent the Lakers from getting on a plane back to Denver.

Andre Miller scored 24 points, including two free throws with 12.8 seconds left, and Denver survived Bryant's late scoring barrage in a 43-point performance, avoiding playoff elimination with a 102-99 victory over Los Angeles on Tuesday night and trimming the Lakers' series lead to 3-2.

McGee had 21 points and 14 rebounds for the sixth-seeded Nuggets, who barely survived a frenetic finish. Denver had a 15-point lead midway through the fourth quarter against the lifeless Lakers, but Bryant engineered a swift comeback before his final three shots missed.

"I was just glad we didn't go to overtime," Miller said. "There was too much energy in the building. A veteran team like that will fight their way back, and they know how to finish games. We found a way to contain them."

Bryant scored 12 points over the final 4:45, hitting four 3-pointers that trimmed the Nuggets' lead to 98-96 with 59 seconds left. Bryant then missed a potential tying 5-footer and a 3-pointer, but Denver missed two of four free throws before Ramon Sessions hit a 3-pointer with 12.8 seconds left, trimming the Nuggets' lead to one point.

Los Angeles had two more chances to tie after the veteran Miller's free throws, but Bryant and Sessions missed 3-pointers near the buzzer.

"It definitely means a lot, but we're still down, and we still have games to win - in a row, at that," said McGee, who had the best game of his first career playoff series. "It's really hard to stop Kobe, but if we stop the bigs, then Kobe can do what he does, and we'll have a really good chance to win."

Game 6 is Thursday night in Denver. The third-seeded Lakers are one win from a second-round date with Oklahoma City, but they've still got work to do.

Coach George Karl gratefully fed Bynum's offhanded post-practice comment to his players, and they played like a team that isn't going anywhere.

"I've been blessed to win a few series, and it's the hardest thing in the world to win the fourth game," Karl said. "I don't care who you're playing, it's hard. ... His feeling on closeouts is a little different than mine."

McGee threw down a mind-boggling array of dunks and converted alley-oop passes while dominating the Lakers' superstar duo of 7-footers. McGee dunked on a 60-foot alley-oop pass from Miller early in the fourth quarter, and he stared down the Lakers' fans after dunking while getting fouled with 6:35 to play.

Arron Afflalo scored a career playoff-high 19 points and Danilo Gallinari added 14 for the Nuggets, while rookie Kenneth Faried had 10 points and nine rebounds. Miller scored 10 points in the fourth quarter and 17 in the second half, calmly leading his young teammates to the win.

The Nuggets still must win two games to advance to the second round for just the second time in nine years, but they have already accomplished something rare by winning Game 5. Los Angeles had closed out a playoff series on the first try in 11 of its previous 12 opportunities, and the Lakers won 12 of their last 13 closeout games under departed coach Phil Jackson.

"That's true, closeouts can be easy," Bryant said. "Tonight wasn't one of those nights. ... Did it pump them up? Probably. You never want to give anybody bulletin board material, but if you're going to be a champion, you've got to play through things like that."

Bynum had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who lost a closeout playoff game at home for the first time since May 4, 2006, against Phoenix.

The Lakers thought they had taken control of the series with a final-minute rally to win a tight Game 4, but the Nuggets have outplayed the third-seeded Lakers for long stretches of the series. Denver was sharper and more determined from the opening tip in Game 5, while the Lakers played a disorganized, disinterested 3 1/2 quarters until the late rally.

The Lakers never trailed in the first two games of the series, but they never led in Game 5 after their very first basket made it 2-0. Denver enforced its preferred speedy tempo on the walk-it-up Lakers for long stretches, repeatedly beating the Lakers back with fast breaks and sharp passes.

"They were daring us to take outside shots," Lakers coach Mike Brown said. "We were getting shots we couldn't make. But to me, that's not the difference in the game. There were so many things we could have done to win this ballgame. ... I'm more disappointed in our defense and our lack of protecting the paint."

Pau Gasol had just nine points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, while Matt Barnes scored 11 points.

The Lakers failed to complete their first playoff series victory under Brown exactly one year after Dallas swept the Lakers in the second round of last year's postseason, ending 11-time NBA champion coach Jackson's career - for now, anyway.

Los Angeles' loss means starting forward Metta World Peace will finish his seven-game suspension during the first round. World Peace was banned for viciously elbowing Oklahoma City's James Harden in the Lakers' penultimate regular-season game.

Notes: Before the game, Brown chuckled mirthlessly at the conspiracy theory suggesting the Lakers might tank Game 5 to burn off World Peace's suspension before facing Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. ... Miller was hit with a technical foul in the second quarter after a hard foul on Bynum, who got a T of his own in the third quarter for shoving Faried after a basket. ... Afflalo finally awoke offensively after averaging just nine points in the first four games of the series. ... Fans near courtside included Larry David, British boxer Amir Khan and comedian Harland Williams.

Denver Nuggets(2-3, 26-23-27-26/102)

T. 로슨-A. 아프랄로-D. 갈리나리-K. 페리드-T. 모즈고브

[A. 밀러-C. 브루어-D. 갈리나리-A. 해링턴-J. 맥기]

[T. 로슨-A. 아프랄로-D. 갈리나리-K. 페리드-T. 모즈고브]

[A. 밀러-C. 브루어-D. 갈리나리-A. 해링턴-J. 맥기]

안드레 밀러(28:5) - 24(8/11, 2/2, 6/6)-2(0/2)-8A-1ST-1TO-4PF → TF(2Q)

저베일 맥기(32:39) - 21(9/12, FT: 3/6)-14(6/8)-1A-2BS-3PF

아론 아프랄로(35:15) - 19(8/19, 1/5, 2/3)-5(0/5)-1A-3ST-1TO

다닐로 갈리나리(36:50) - 14(4/13, 0/3, 6/6)-5(0/5)-1A-1BS

케네스 페리드(23:33) - 10(5/5)-9(1/8)-1ST-3TO-3PF

타이 로슨(29:11) - 9(4/12, 0/3, 1/2)-2(0/2)-8A-2ST-3PF

알 해링턴(26:38) - 3(0/7, 0/4, 3/4)-5(1/4)-1BS-1TO

코리 브루어(14:40) - 2(1/5, 3P: 0/2)-1(0/1)-1TO-2PF

티모피 모즈고브(13:9) - 0(0/1)-1BS-4PF

* FG: 39/85(45.9%)-3P: 3/19(15.8%)-FT: 21/27(77.8%)-43(8/35)-19A-7ST-5BS-7TO-19F(팀리바운드 12, 총 실책 7)

Los Angeles Lakers(3-2, 23-20-22-34/99)

R. 세션스-K. 브라이언트-D. 이뱅크스-P. 가솔-A. 바이넘

[S. 블레이크-R. 세션스-M. 반즈-J. 힐-P. 가솔]

[R. 세션스-K. 브라이언트-D. 이뱅크스-P. 가솔-A. 바이넘]

[S. 블레이크-R. 세션스-K. 브라이언트-P. 가솔-A. 바이넘]

코비 브라이언트(43:12) - 43(14/32, 5/11, 10/11)-6(1/5)-5A-2ST-3TO-2PF

앤드류 바이넘(39:11) - 16(5/8, FT: 6/8)-11(4/7)-1A-1BS-1TO-2PF → TF(3Q)

맷 반즈(22:34) - 11(5/14, 3P: 1/6)-4(2/2)-2A-2ST-3PF

라몬 세션스(36:21) - 9(3/12, 1/3, 2/3)-6(0/6)-6A-2TO-1PF

파우 가솔(37:15) - 9(4/11, FT: 1/2)-10(2/8)-1A-1ST-3BS-2TO-4PF

스티브 블레이크(30:30) - 8(3/6, 3P: 2/4)-6(3/3)-4A-1ST-1TO-4PF

데빈 이뱅크스(11:24) - 3(1/3, FT: 1/2)-1A-2PF

조던 힐(19:32) - 0(0/4)-5(3/2)-1BS-2PF

다리우스 모리스(:1)

* FG: 35/90(38.9%)-3P: 9/24(37.5%)-FT: 20/26(76.9%)-48(15/33)-20A-6ST-5BS-9TO-20F(팀리바운드 10, 총 실책 10)

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/den

데빈 이뱅크스(Los Angeles Lakers #3)와 다닐로 갈리나리(Denver #8)

라몬 세션스(Los Angeles Lakers #7)와 타이 로슨(Denver #3)

코비 브라이언트(Los Angeles Lakers #24)와 아론 아프랄로(Denver #6), 티모피 모즈고브(Denver #25)

조지 칼 Denver Nuggets 감독

파우 가솔(Los Angeles Lakers #16)과 다닐로 갈리나리

조던 힐(Los Angeles Lakers #27)과 안드레 밀러(Denver #24), 저베일 맥기(Denver #34)

맷 반즈(Los Angeles Lakers #9)와 다닐로 갈리나리, 알 해링턴(Denver #7)

마이크 브라운 Los Angeles Lakers 감독

앤드류 바이넘과 티모피 모즈고브, 다닐로 갈리나리

조던 힐과 알 해링턴, 저베일 맥기

아론 아프랄로와 맷 반즈

라몬 세션스와 알 해링턴, 아론 아프랄로

앤드류 바이넘, 맷반즈와 안드레 밀러, 케네스 페리드(Denver #35, R)

안드레 밀러

스티브 블레이크(Los Angeles Lakers #5)와 안드레 밀러

파우 가솔과 알 해링턴

앤드류 바이넘

코비 브라이언트와 아론 아프랄로, 케네스 페리드

알 해링턴과 조던 힐, 파우 가솔

코비 브라이언트와 케네스 페리드

파우 가솔과 티모피 모즈고브

코비 브라이언트

타이 로슨과 앤드류 바이넘, 조던 힐

라몬 세션스, 조던 힐, 파우 가솔과 저베일 맥기, 안드레 밀러, 알 해링턴

맷 반즈, 라몬 세션스와 코리 브루어(Denver #13), 알 해링턴

코비 브라이언트와 아론 아프랄로

코비 브라이언트와 다닐로 갈리나리

조던 힐, 앤드류 바이넘과 저베일 맥기, 케네스 페리드, 타이 로슨

코비 브라이언트와 아론 아프랄로

아미르 칸(복서)

스티브 블레이크와 안드레 밀러

조던 힐, 파우 가솔과 저베일 맥기, 알 해링턴

아미르 칸

아론 아프랄로, 케네스 페리드와 조던 힐

앤드류 바이넘, 스티브 블레이크와 안드레 밀러, 저베일 맥기

타이 로슨과 라몬 세션스

다닐로 갈리나리와 파우 가솔

케네스 페리드와 앤드류 바이넘

안드레 밀러와 맷 반즈

코리 브루어, 다닐로 갈리나리

저베일 맥기와 코비 브라이언트

파우 가솔

저베일 맥기와 앤드류 바이넘

아론 아프랄로와 코비 브라이언트

조지 칼 Denver Nuggets 감독

라몬 세션스

라몬 세션스와 코리 브루어

라몬 세션스와 코리 브루어

스티브 블레이크, 코비 브라이언트와 알 해링턴

코비 브라이언트

앤드류 바이넘과 안드레 밀러, 다닐로 갈리나리

코비 브라이언트와 안드레 밀러, 알 해링턴, 저베일 맥기

다닐로 갈리나리, 티모피 모즈고브와 앤드류 바이넘, 파우 가솔, 데빈 이뱅크스, 라몬 세션스, 코비 브라이언트

저베일 맥기(BS)와 코비 브라이언트

잭 블랙(영화배우)

코비 브라이언트와 아론 아프랄로

저베일 맥기, 안드레 밀러와 앤드류 바이넘, 코비 브라이언트

저베일 맥기와 파우 가솔

안드레 밀러와 맷 반즈

알 해링턴과 파우 가솔

저베일 맥기와 코비 브라이언트

코비 브라이언트와 알 해링턴

조지 칼 Denver Nuggets 감독, 아론 아프랄로, 안드레 밀러, 타이 로슨, 티모피 모즈고브, 케네스 페리드, 조던 해밀턴(Denver #1, R), 크리스 앤더슨(Denver #11), 다닐로 갈리나리, 채드 이스키 Denver Nuggets 코치

안드레 밀러와 코비 브라이언트

안드레 밀러와 코비 브라이언트

안드레 밀러, 다닐로 갈리나리

코비 브라이언트

안드레 밀러와 코비 브라이언트

* Next Game: PS Western Conference Quarterfinals Game 6, vs. Los Angeles Lakers: 한국시간 2012.5.11(金), 오전 11시 30분!