(Denver-CO) The Denver Nuggets exorcised one of their most haunting demons last night by breaking a nine-game losing streak to the Los Angeles Lakers with a much needed win, 90-79. The victory was a product of Denver playing its best 48-minute body of work defensively, a well-balanced attack from the starters and the bench, and two very special performances by J.R. Smith and Chris Andersen, or if you prefer, the Prodigy and the Birdman.

In the first quarter of action both teams looked fatigued. For the Lakers there was an excuse: L.A. did not get into Denver until 4:00AM after dismantling the Phoenix Suns in socal less than 24 hours before the tip off of last night’s game. For the Nuggets, there was no such alibi. Denver had a light practice Thursday after defeating the Hawks by the slimmest of margins on Wednesday night. Nevertheless, neither team was able to score with much efficiency in the first twelve minutes as both clubs looked content just feeling each other out with jump shots.

The results for Denver couldn’t have been more favorable. In combination with L.A.’s reluctance to attack the rim, the Nuggets were crowding and contesting most of Kobe Bryant’s mid range jumpers while the open looks the rest of the Lakers did have were mostly bricks.

Things changed for Denver in the second quarter with the insertion of J.R. Smith. The Prodigy scored nine-straight points over a four minute span before Carmelo Anthony dunked home a very heady pass from Chris Andersen. The Bird played great all-around basketball in the first half after being called off the bench with a minute remaining in the first quarter, but it was Smith who showed us a wide variety of his offensive repertoire by scoring on a three, two mid range jumpers, and a nice drive to the rim that earned him two free-throws that really gave this game its first hint of flavor after an otherwise bland first quarter. The duo of the Bird and the Prodigy combined to score 15 of Denver’s 30 points in the second and were the reason why the Nuggets were able to open up a ten-point lead, 29-19, with 7:45 to play in the quarter and entered halftime leading, 46-40.

The Denver defense held the Lakers to their lowest point total (40) through two quarters of play so far this season. They did so not by creating a plethora of steals or blocking a tremendous number of shots, but rather with solid, and I mean Rocky Mountain SOLID, defensive fundamentals. The Nuggets were relentless on contesting shots. Even semi-open Laker shots still had to deal with a Nugget defender closing on the shot attempt before turning around and boxing out the shooter. The result of this was L.A. shooting 31% from the field in the half with Kobe Bryant leading the way for the Lakers with 15 first half points. Offensively, it was the Nugget reserves, led by J.R. Smith’s team-high eleven points at half, who were getting the best of the Lakers. Denver’s subs outscored the Lakers’ subs 21-5 in the first half. Denver was also enjoying a 22-8 advantage in points scored in the paint much to the thanks of J.R. Smith’s penetration-and-dish mindset in the second quarter and smart decision making by Chauncey Billups.

L.A. was fuming after the intermission and quickly erased Denver’s six-point advantage. This was partially due to Denver going stale offensively, but the Lakers had obviously rallied at half (like any 48-10 team would) and mid way through the third quarter led by five, 55-50. At this juncture of the game, George Karl called, in retrospect, what could have been the most timely powwow this season. The Nuggets responded out of the timeout with fewer jump shots, crisper passing, and a renewed intensity on defense to battle back with a 9-4 run to tie the game at 59. The chess match continued with Phil Jackson calling a timeout in an attempt to slow the Nuggets’ momentum, but the wave of emotion was building in the Pepsi Center as the indomitable Lakers began to look vulnerable. Denver then finished the quarter on a 7-4 spurt, largely in thanks due to the Bird swatting shots on back-to-back Laker possessions, to enter the money period leading by three, 66-63.

Also credit Chauncey Billups for keeping the team composed in the third quarter. His steady shooting hand sustained the Nuggets with 14 points in the quarter and his cerebral management kept the wheels from falling off when the Nuggets fell behind by five. In fact, ten of his 14 points in the third came post George Karl’s timeout at 7:30.

But once the fourth quarter was underway, the show was stolen by J.R. Smith and Chris Andersen. The Bird was everywhere! His wings were spread wide blocking shots, tipping in offensive rebounds, dominating the defensive glass, and tossing in reverse lay-ups in an aerial display for all the bird watchers in the Mile High City to marvel at.  And the Prodigy was no defensive slouch either! J.R. visibly aggravated Kobe Bryant with his relentless defense. Kobe shot just 4-13 against J.R. combined for the game and did not get to the line on the Prodigy while Smith definitely got the best of him offensively in the fourth. J.R. outscored Bryant 9-6 in the final period with all nine of his points being scored consecutively and his final free-throw putting the Nuggets up by nine, 81-72, with just 4:28 remaining in regulation.

The fans in the Can knew at this point the Lakers were done for. The final four minutes of this game were as electric as any I can remember and after each Denver score salted away the win the feeling of jubilation in Pepsi Center was akin to a successful exorcism. The Nuggets were embarrassed by the Celtics not even a weak ago in a failure against the Eastern Conference’s best team, but Monday’s let down couldn’t have felt like a more distant memory as Denver had held the NBA’s top scoring team to a season low 79 points!

The Birdman was simply sensational. Andersen finished with the near triple-double of twelve rebounds, eleven points, and a career-high tying seven blocked shots. It was by far and away the best game I have ever seen the Bird play and he was the difference in tonight’s win overall. The toughness he brought on the defensive end was contagious and when he was in the game the Lakers had good reason to avoid the paint.

J.R. Smith and Chauncey Billups each scored 22 points with both men doing their damage in spurts. Smith with nine consecutive points in the second and fourth quarters and Chauncey with nine of his 14 points in the third coming consecutively as well. Carmelo’s performance, while not flashy, was very balanced. ‘Melo finished with a double-dozen of twelve points, twelve rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks. And in his first game back from a deep bone bruise in his right knee, Nene came off the bench for 20 minutes of action in which he scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds.

There’s two critical factors that went into the makings of this win. The first is the Denver bench outscoring the Laker bench 47-7. The second is how the Nuggets defended for a full 48 minutes, and more importantly how they disrupted Kobe Bryant. Sure, Bryant scored 29 points, but he had to take 31 attempts, making only ten of them, and only handed out five assists. It was an inefficient showing by Bryant and without the offensive assistance he is accustomed to it was impossible for him to carry the Lakers to victory.

Now, I don’t want to sober everyone up after such an intoxicating win, but the important thing to remember is this is just one game. Sure, it’s a statement to the rest of the league that Denver IS capable of beating the elite, but it‘s important for the Nuggets to keep a level head as they hit the road for a pair of games. With that being said, the Nuggets have now beaten the Spurs, Celtics, Magic, AND Lakers this season. That leaves just LeBron James and the Cavaliers as the only “elite” team the Nuggets haven’t beaten this season and the only way Denver will see ‘Bron and crew this season will be if both teams make it to the NBA Finals.

Do you believe, Nuggets Nation?

And here is one last story about a great Friday night... A couple friends and I went out bowling after the game and ran into none other than Anthony Carter! AC walked in calmly with some friends and was just a couple of lanes down from us. We gave a couple of "ACeeeeeeee" calls over in his direction and he simply tossed up the deuces and gave a head nod.

Go Nuggets!

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