Kobe and the Los Angeles Lakers drew first blood against the Denver Nuggets in their Game 1 of the 2009 NBA Western Conference Finals at Staples Center, LA, 106-104. He took over the game in the last 30 seconds with six successive free throws to finished with a game high 40 points.
It was a see-saw battle in the fourth quarter between the teams with the Nuggets leading most of the way. The Lakers kept their poised in the end game with Derek Fisher, Pau Gasol and Travis Ariza making some heads-up plays in the homestrecth.
Pau Gasol had 13 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers, who were trailing by seven points in the fourth quarter. Gasol’s two free throws tied the game for the last time at 99 before Bryant started his closing streak at the line, offsetting a 3-pointer by Chauncey Billups and a free throw by J.R. Smith.
Carmelo Anthony scored 39 points and Billups added 18 for the Nuggets, who had played since last Wednesday after demolishing Dallas Mavericks in five games.
Game 2 is set on Thursday at Staples Center. The Nuggets have lost 11 successive playoff games to the Lakers, including a first-round sweep last season.
Bryant, who was 9 for 9 from the line in the fourth quarter, made two for a 101-99 lead with 30 seconds left. Trevor Ariza stole the inbounds pass near midcourt and the Lakers were able to run the clock down to 10 seconds when Bryant made two more free throws.
Billups hit a booming 3-pointer to get the Nuggets to 103-102 with 5 seconds left, but then Anthony fouled Bryant, who made his final two foul shots.
Smith made one free throw with 3.2 seconds left and intentionally missed the second one as. Bryant grabbed the game’s last rebound.
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