Andrew Bynum scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 93-89 win over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night at Staples Center. The win was the third straight victory for the Lakers, who improved to 3-7 on the road this season.
Pau Gasol added 13 points and a season-high 17 boards for the Lakers, who shot 47.4% from the field and outrebounded the Nuggets 47-40.
Kobe Bryant entered Friday's game shooting just 26.1% against the Nuggets (15-8) this season, including six for 28 at The Pepsi Center. He began Friday night even worse, making two of his first 12 shots from the field before heating up with 10 points in the third quarter. Kobe on the night had 20 points, six boards, and nine assists, but made just seven of 23 shots from the field. In three games against the Nuggets this season, Kobe has made 19 of 69 field goal attempts (27.5%).
Gasol hit a three-point shot from the corner at the end of the third quarter but he didn't quite get the shot out of his hand before the buzzer and the basket was waived off by the referees and confirmed as no good by instant replay. That was one of several plays reviewed by officials in the second half, including a missed foul call as Nene Hilario hit Bynum on the arm with 12 seconds remaining in the game. Bynum missed a layup (that he should have tried to dunk) but instead lost possession to Denver, who had a chance to tie the or win the game.
Instead, Al Harrington missed a step-back three-pointer with 3.7 seconds left and Matt Barnes came down with the rebound. Barnes hit two free throws with 0.2 seconds remaining to secure the win for the Lakers (14-9). Harrington had 24 points and eight rebounds off the bench to lead Denver in both categories.
The Lakers travel to Salt Lake City to battle the Utah Jazz on Saturday night.
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