The Denver Nuggets figured to not be in this game and the Lakers proved that to be true from the 4th quarter performance that was sparked by good defense and good shooting.

The Nuggets were in this game from the start but wore down in the 4th quarter with bad shot selection and also not getting any love from the refs. The Nuggets looked like they could not wait to get back to the mile high city after taking a loss in Wednesdays game 5 of the western conference finals.

The Lakers looked a bit high strung in the first half by going 0-9 from the 3 point stripe before getting their first made 3 point bucket right at the end of the first half. Kobe Bryant took the Lakers into the half tied with the Nuggets and it was the Lakers who seemed lucky to be tied at the half.

What really turned the game around from an emotional stand point was a steal by Gasol that led to a Shannon Brown dunk over the "Birdman" Anderson with 4 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. From there the Lakers beat o the Nuggets to win game 5 and take a 3-2 game lead over the Nuggets.  So, now it's back to Denver for game 6 on Friday and will the Lakers take the game and have the killer instinct to end the series. Or, will the Nuggets have the presence of mind to take care of business and make this a 1 game playoff to see who can lead the western conference in the NBA finals.  Isaac Romero