The Los Angeles Lakers look to close out the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 of their first round NBA playoff series Tuesday night at Staples Center. The Lakers seized control of the series with a 92-88 win Sunday night in Game 4 in Denver, giving them a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Here is a look at some numbers heading into Game 5.
Commanding Lead: The Lakers have a 3-1 lead for the 35th time in a best-of-seven series in their franchise history. They have won 33 of the first 34 series, losing only in 2006 to the Phoenix Suns, when the Lakers were the No. 7 seed.
Home Court Advantage: Since moving into Staples Center for the 1999-2000 season, the Lakers are 78-17 at home in the playoffs, a winning percentage of .821.
Kobe Scoring: Kobe Bryant has averaged 28.3 points per game in the series against Denver, including a pair of 30-point games in the first two games, both at Staples Center. Bryant has 83 playoff games of 30 points or more in his career, second only to Michael Jordan's 109 games. Bryant has averaged at least 20 points per game for a Lakers franchise record 30 consecutive playoff series, dating back to 2001.
Bynum In The Middle: Despite getting just 12.5 shots per game, Andrew Bynum is averaging 18.5 points per game in the series, thanks to 60% shooting (30-for-50) and a 63.9% true shooting percentage. Bynum is also shooting 77.8% from the free throw line (14-for-18), and averaging 10.3 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per contest.
Team Offensive Efficiency: Lakers, 107.3 points per 100 possessions; Nuggets, 105.0
Team Shooting: Lakers: 44.5% FG, 47.3% eFG%, 50.3% TS%; Nuggets: 41.1% FG, 43.5% eFG%, 47.2% TS%
Free Throws: Lakers, 56-for-79 (79.0%); Nuggets, 62-for-84 (73.8%)
Three-Pointers: Lakers, 19-for-74 (25.7%); Nuggets, 17-for-68 (25.0%)
Dominance of Denver: The Lakers are looking for their sixth playoff series win against the Nuggets in six tries. In their postseason history, the Lakers are 20-5 all-time against Denver, including 11-2 in Los Angeles.
For more news and notes on the Lakers or this first round playoff series against Denver, be sure to read Silver Screen and Roll.
