Kobe bushwhack Denver Nuggets in Game 3

Kobe Bryant made crucial free throws and MVP-like plays down the stretch to beat the Denver Nuggets, 103-97 for a 2-1 lead in the NBA Western Conference Finals.

Bryant made a 24-foot three point shot over J.R. Smith with 1:08 remaining in the regulations to give the Lakers a 96-95 lead over the Nuggets. Kobe scored 41 points and made 5-of-6 free throws to capped his sterling performance.

Denver Nuggets was not able to execute well their offensive plays and committed a costly inbound turnover which sparks the Lakers finishing run with Kobe and Trevor Ariza making free throws in the last 0:36 seconds of play in the regulation. Kenyon Martin made an errant inbound pass to Carmelo Anthony intercepted by Ariza. Anthony fouled Ariza putting him on the line and giving the Lakers a 99-95 lead with 36 seconds left.



In the ensuing play, Chauncey Billups made two free throws cutting down the lead at 99-97. However, Bryant sank two more free throws with 22 seconds left to pad Lakers lead. Billups missed a potential 3-pointer and Bryant sealed the game with a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left.

Carmelo Anthony paced the Nuggets with 21 points after sitting most of the 2nd half with foul troubles and fouling out with 36 seconds remaining in the game. He was 4-for-13 in the field for his worst performance of the postseason. Denver led most of the first half with heads-up plays of Chris Anderson, Nene, and Dahntay Jones. J.R. Smith closed out the first half with a three point buzzer beater over Sasha Vujacic. He drew a technical foul for thrashing Vujacic after the play.

Anderson chipped in 15 points, Billups with 18, and the duo of Nene and Smith with 10 points apiece in a losing effort for the Nuggets. This is the Nuggets first home lost since March 9. They had been dominant at Pepsi Center in the playoffs against the New Orleans Hornets and Dallas Mavericks with a winning average of 17.5 points.

Pau Gasol had another dominating performance with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and a block for 43 minutes of play. Ariza chipped in 16 points in spite of an injury with 7:18 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

Billups' made a four-point play on a Bryant foul gave Denver an 89-86 lead. However, Paul Gasol hit back-to-back jumpers over Nene to put the Lakers back on top, and Bryant's twinner made it 92-91 with three minutes left in the game.