Where: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Officials: #10 Ron Garretson, # Josh Tiven, #40 Leon Wood
Attendance: 19155
Pau Gasol had 19 points and 13 rebounds and Ron Artest also added 19 points to lead a balanced attack as the Los Angeles Lakers recorded a 107-97 victory over the host Denver Nuggets on Friday.
Kobe Bryant scored 18 points, Lamar Odom had 18 points and 10 rebounds and Andrew Bynum added 17 points as Los Angeles (32-13) defeated the Nuggets for just the second time in the last six meetings.
Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points and Arron Afflalo added 22 points for Denver (24-18).
The Lakers trailed 52-49 at halftime but came out inspired in the second half and outscored Denver 33-20 in the third quarter to take a 10-point lead into the final frame.
Los Angeles had a 47-27 rebounding edge and shot 53.4 percent from the field. Bryant had just four points in the first half, but finished with seven assists.
Chauncey Billups scored 16 points and Ty Lawson added 15 points for the Nuggets.
| L.A. Lakers | Denver | |
| Pau Gasol 19 | Scoring | Carmelo Anthony 23 |
| Kobe Bryant 7 | Assists | Carmelo Anthony 5 |
| Pau Gasol 13 | Rebounds | Nene 7 |
| Andrew Bynum 3 | Free Throws Made | Chauncey Billups 5 |
| Shannon Brown 1 | Steals | Carmelo Anthony 2 |
| Andrew Bynum 2 | Blocks | Chauncey Billups 1 |
| Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
| L.A. Lakers | 107 | 53.4 | 4-16 | 9-14 | 24 | 47 | 4 | 3 | 9 |
| Denver | 97 | 47.4 | 7-21 | 16-20 | 23 | 27 | 1 | 7 | 9 |
- Denver will play their next game at home against Indiana. The Nuggets have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.
- L.A. Lakers will play their next game at home against Utah. The Lakers have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.