The Los Angeles Lakers had their nine-game winning streak snapped today with a 95-90 loss at Staples Center to the Denver Nuggets. Danilo Gallinari had 22 points to lead a balanced Denver scoring attack, which had four players score in double figures and three players score 16 or more points. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 28 points in defeat.
The game was tied at 69-69 after three quarters, but Denver outscored the Lakers 26-21 in the final period. Both Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum had monster games on the boards, but both hurt their right knee. Bynum, who had 16 rebounds and two blocks, tweaked his knee but told Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register, "Same thing, but I'm all right." Gasol, however, will undergo an MRI exam on Monday, per Mike Trudell of NBA.com.
The Lakers next play on Tuesday night, hosting the Utah Jazz at Staples Center. With the loss, the Lakers fell to two games behind the San Antonio Spurs in the loss column with six to play, in the battle for the top seed in the Western Conference. The Lakers host the Spurs on April 12.
For more news and information on the Lakers or today's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.