Kobe Gets 41, Lakers Get Game 3 Victory

After LeBron James hit that magical shot to down Orlando in Game 2 on Friday, many wondered if Kobe Bryant might have noticed, and have something similarly special in store for us when his team hit the floor in Denver for Game 3 out west.

As it turns out, he did.

Bryant's thee-pointer with just over a minute to play gave his Lakers the lead for good, and he finished the Nuggets off at the free throw line by hitting five of six down the stretch to give L.A. the 103-97 victory.

Carmelo Anthony, who averaged 35 points over his last five playoff games, led the Nuggets with just 21.

Lakers 103, Nuggets 97: Recap | Box Score | Are Lakers the Underdog?
L.A. Leads 2-1 | Next Game: Monday @ Denver, 9 PM ET

'Melo shot a dismal 4-of-13 from the field, and made just one of his seven three-point attempts. He started off hot, hitting for 13 points in the first quarter and eighteen in the first half.

After the first quarter, however, Anthony had just one field goal and seven points the rest of the way. Kobe Bryant? He had 35 in the final three quarters.

Denver got some contributions from guys like Dahntay Jones and Chris Andersen, who combined for 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting. That's a bonus for them, but when Anthony, J.R. Smith, and Chauncey Billups combine to go 13-of-43, it ends up being irrelevant.

Despite subpar offensive games from Anthony and Billups, the Nuggets entered the fourth quarter with an eight-point lead and seemed primed to finish things off on their home floor. But the Lakers opened the period on a 10-1 run, taking their first lead since the first quarter on a three-pointer from Trevor Ariza that put them up 81-80 with seven minutes to go.

Ariza hit another big three a couple of minutes later, but his biggest play of the game was yet to come.

In a situation very similar to the end of Game 1, Ariza pilfered an inbound pass to seal the win. Denver was trying to inbound the ball on the sideline while trailing by two with 37 seconds remaining. Kenyon Martin threw the errant pass, prompting Ariza to come speeding up behind Carmelo Anthony to get the game-sealing steal, one that caused Anthony to foul Ariza to prevent a fast-break basket. Anthony fouled out on the play, which made the possibility of any late-game heroics from him a non-issue.

The Lakers outscored Denver 32-18 in the critical fourth quarter, and in the end, it was all about what Bryant was able to do to will his team to the victory: 41 points on 12-of-24 shooting, six rebounds, five assists, two steals, and just one turnover.

And on the other side, it was about what Carmelo Anthony (30 percent from the field, 14 percent from three) simply could not accomplish.

Latest NBA Playoff Photos

DENVER - MAY 23: Sasha Vujacic #18 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts from the bench late in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 23, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sasha Vujacic

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DENVER - MAY 23: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 23, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kobe Bryant

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DENVER - MAY 23: Kenyon Martin #4 of the Denver Nuggets sits on the bench after losing to the Los Angeles Lakers 103-97 in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 23, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kenyon Martin

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DENVER - MAY 23: Carmelo Anthony #15 of the Denver Nuggets reacts late in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 23, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Carmelo Anthony

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DENVER - MAY 23: Trevor Ariza #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers is fouled by Carmelo Anthony #15 of the Denver Nuggets after Ariza stole the ball late in the fourth quarter in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 23, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Trevor Ariza;Carmelo Anthony

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DENVER - MAY 23: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots over Kenyon Martin #4 of the Denver Nuggets in the second half of Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 23, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kobe Bryant;Kenyon Martin

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DENVER - MAY 23: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 23, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kobe Bryant

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DENVER - MAY 23: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks up after he slides on the floor after going for the ball in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 23, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kobe Bryant

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Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant slides down the court late in the game against the Denver Nuggets during Game 3 of the NBA Western Conference Finals basketball game in Denver May 23, 2009 REUTERS/Rick Wilking (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

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Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant shoots over the top of Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith during the final minutes of Game 3 of the NBA basketball Western Conference finals Saturday, May 23, 2009, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)