A well-rested Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers look to open the 2012 NBA playoffs on a high note on Sunday afternoon as they host the high-scoring Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of their first round playoff series at Staples Center. Here are the relevant details of Sunday's nationally televised game on ABC.
Records, Seeding: Lakers (41-25, No. 3 seed); Nuggets (38-28, No. 6 seed)
Game 1 Location: Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles
Time: 12:30 p.m. PDT
TV: ABC, with Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy on the call.
Offensive Efficiency: Nuggets, 109.2 points per 100 possessions (third in NBA); Lakers, 106.0 (10th)
Defensive Efficiency: Lakers, 104.4 (13th); Nuggets, 106.2 (21st)
Home vs. Road: The Lakers were 26-7 at home this season; The Nuggets were 18-15 on the road.
First Round Dominance: When the Lakers have home court advantage in the first round, they have won 34 of 36 series. When winning Game 1 in the first round, the Lakers have a series record of 33-1.
Kobe Scoring Streak: Kobe Bryant narrowly missed out on his third NBA scoring title, opting to sit out the final game in Sacramento rather than try to score 38 points to overtake Kevin Durant. But Bryant has another scoring milestone in play as well. He has scored in double figures in 159 consecutive playoff games, the second longest streak in NBA history behind Michael Jordan's 179 straight. Kobe has averaged 20 or more points per game in a franchise record 30 consecutive playoff series.
Series History: The Lakers beat the Nuggets in three of their four encounters during the regular season, including two wins at Staples Center. These two teams have met in the playoffs five times (1979, 1985, 1987, 2008, and 2009), with the Lakers winning all five series. The Lakers are 17-4 in the postseason against the Nuggets, including 9-2 at home and 8-2 on the road.
Game 1 tips off at 12:30 p.m. PDT. For more news and notes on Lakers basketball, be sure to read Silver Screen and Roll.
