After facing two relatively easy opponents in the 2009 NBA playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers took on the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals.
The Nuggets not only featured superstar Carmelo Anthony but also point guard Chauncey Billups, who had killed Los Angeles in the 2004 NBA Finals and earned series MVP honors.
With a rich and talented supporting cast, the Nuggets had become, in some corners, trendy favorites to knock off the Lakers. But Kobe Bryant wasn’t going to let that happen.
In Game 1, his teammates struggled. Only two other main rotation players, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, shot at least 50%. They combined for 19 points.
Therefore, the Black Mamba went on the offensive.
He scored 40 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter, as the Lakers overcame a seven-point deficit with less than seven minutes left to win, 105-103.
For Denver, Anthony put up 39 points on 14-of-20 shooting.
This contest is also remembered for Trevor Ariza’s clutch steal of an Anthony Carter inbound pass with about 30 seconds remaining that sealed the outcome.
It was just the beginning of an underrated and competitive series.
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