Lakers and Nuggets meet for second time of new season

This is already the second meeting of the young season between the clubs. On Wednesday, Kobe Bryant recorded 33 points and hit the game-winning shot with 0.6 seconds remaining in overtime, giving head coach Phil Jackson a triumphant return to the sidelines as the Lakers earned an exciting 99-97 victory over Denver at the Pepsi Center.

The teams will play again on April 6th at the Pepsi Center.

The Nuggets picked up their first win of the season on Friday. Marcus Camby scored a game-high 23 points with 17 rebounds to lead Denver to a convincing 107-68 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at the Pepsi Center.

Voshon Lenard chipped in 17 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists in Friday’s win for the Nuggets, while Carmelo Anthony netted 14. Andre Miller dished out 10 assists for Denver, which outscored Portland 30-to-11 in the fourth quarter.

Denver head coach George Karl returned to the bench against Portland after serving a two-game suspension for violating league rules that prohibits contact between NBA players not eligible for the draft.

The Nuggets lost their only road game of the season, as they fell to the world champion San Antonio Spurs, 102-91, on Tuesday at the SBC Center in the season-opener for both clubs.

LA attempts to rebound from a loss to Phoenix. On Thursday, Shawn Marion scored 30 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, as the Suns held off a late charge to defeat the Lakers, 122-112, at the Staples Center.

Bryant totaled 39 points, seven rebounds and five assists, but the Lakers failed to get Jackson a win in his first home game since his return to the bench. Lamar Odom had 23 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists, while Smush Parker tallied 21 points in the loss to the Suns for the Lakers.

The Lakers hit the road for four games after tonight’s contest. They will visit Atlanta, Minnesota, Philadelphia and Memphis on the swing.