Nuggets survive Kobe fireworks to ice Lakers

SundayToronto     92-104    Oklahoma City     Miami      99-71    Washington     Detroit      101-108 Charlotte     Phoenix     81-92    Memphis

Tuesday, January 08, 2013
Ty Lawson of the Denver Nuggets drives to the basket against Dwight Howard. Net photo.

SundayToronto     92-104    Oklahoma City     Miami      99-71    Washington     Detroit      101-108 Charlotte     Phoenix     81-92    Memphis     LOS ANGELES - The Denver Nuggets dropped the stumbling Los Angeles Lakers further into the doldrums on Sunday with a 112-105 win despite some fourth-quarter fireworks from Kobe Bryant.Ty Lawson scored 21 points and 10 assists and Danilo Gallinari hit five of his 20 in the final seconds to kill the Lakers’ rally and send them to a third successive defeat.The Lakers (15-18) left with more than their pride bruised, Pau Gasol exiting the contest in the fourth quarter after having his nose bloodied by an elbow from JaVale McGee.Center Dwight Howard also aggravated a right shoulder injury and will undergo scans on Monday."It’s a great win for us but I’m not going to inflate it,” Nuggets coach George Karl told reporters.Bryant did his best to rescue Los Angeles again by scoring 18 of his 29 points in the final quarter but the Lakers fell just short in front of a frustrated home crowd.Los Angeles trailed by 10 midway through the fourth, although they fought back as Bryant twice made three-pointers to pull them within three in the final minute.The Lakers have now lost four of five and are tumbling down the standings under new coach Mike D’Antoni and his star-studded roster.