In the opening round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers had one of their strangest and most stressful postseason series in recent memory. After taking a 3-1 lead in the series and putting up an historically dismal showing, the Denver Nuggets forced an all-or-nothing Game 7.

At the Staples Center on Saturday night, the Lakers looked fallible but ultimately were able to hang on for the win. C.A. Clark at Silver Screen and Roll had this to say about the victory:

Coming into tonight's contest, there was much talk about the negative ramifications of a loss. After all, it would be an historic collapse for a team of this talent level to lose a series after going up 3-1. Now, with a round 2 match up on the horizon, the Lakers have staved off the apocalypse for at least a little while. Now its time to find out what happens next.

The Lakers will face a much tougher opponent in the Western Conference semifinals, as they will face off with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

For more news and notes on Lakers basketball or on this first round NBA playoff series, be sure to read Silver Screen and Roll.