Philippines, 22 Aug 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


LAKERS VS NUGGETS -- Size matters but speed kills


PhilBoxing.com




WITH Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol at the helm , the Los Angeles Lakers frontline has an imposing 14 inches in length, easily dwarfing over the Denver Nuggets who only have unheralded Timofey Mozgov as the lone 7-footer in their starting unit.

That size advantage proved too daunting for the Nuggets, who lost both Game 1 (103-88) and Game 2 (104-100) at the Staples Center where this opening round showdown opened.

But when the best-of-7 series shifted to Denver Friday night for Game 3 at the Pepsi Center, the Nuggets found a way to counter LA's edge heft and height.

The Nuggets ran and ran and ran. After a 25-14 jump, point guard Ty Lawson orchestrated an improbable 28-2 spree as the Nuggets led by as many as 24 points before settling with a 55-39 halftime spread.

The Lakers slowed down the pace in the third quarter, held the Nuggets to 17 points and crept to within 72-65 heading into the final 12 minutes. But the Nuggets cranked up their attack once again in the fourth quarter, and in the high altitude air of Colorado, the Lakers just didn't have the gas to mount a full and complete comeback.

"The game for us is all about our energy and enthusiasm..It was a fun win for me. I can't remember a win as much as I enjoyed this thing," said Denver head coach George Karl whose Nuggets staggered the Lakers with 19 fastbreak points and 52 huge points inside the paint.y

"I felt like they played really well. They played with a lot of intensity and for us it was good learning experience. I'm proud of the way we battled to get back into the game. We just couldn't get over the hump," said Lakers star Kobe Bryant who missed 16 of his 23 shots to finish with only 22 points.

Bynum and Gasol combined for a total of 34 points and 19 rebounds but it wasn't enough to bail the Lakers, who made just 29 of 78 field goals (37.2 percent) and 6 of 25 threes (24 percent)

Lawson, Denver's blur of a point guard, had 25 points to engineer the Nuggets' 99-84 victory that cut the Lakers' series lead to 2-1. A pair of Nuggets big man also made a huge impact in Game 3 as 6-foot-8 Kenneth Faried and JaVale McGee combined for 28 points and 30 rebounds.

Game 4 returns to the Pepsi Center in Denver Sunday night (Homer D. Sayson)


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • COE AND HART CLASH ON BOOTS ENNIS CARD IN PHILADELPHIA
    , Thu, 21 Aug 2025
  • ‘There's nothing that he brings to the table that I've not got an answer for’ Sam Rennie on upcoming fight at Thunderdome 51
    , Thu, 21 Aug 2025
  • JAMAINE "THE TECHNICIAN" ORTIZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 21 Aug 2025
  • Gervonta Davis vs. Jake Paul: Exhibition Bout Announced for November
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 21 Aug 2025
  • Legendary boxing coach John Brown Compares cornering Tommy Morrison & Rising young star Marco Romero
    , Thu, 21 Aug 2025
  • World Kid to Host Meet-and-Greet and Open Workouts In advance of “The Return” on August 31 in Detroit
    , Thu, 21 Aug 2025
  • Assassin’s Creed: Brian Norman Jr. Signs Multi-Year Contract Extension with Top Rank
    , Thu, 21 Aug 2025
  • Five Philippine FIDE Masters are scheduled to arrive in Roxas City
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 21 Aug 2025
  • Boxing Promotional Powerhouse Top Rank Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday, September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 21 Aug 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 12: MUHAMMAD ALI LOSSES THEN WINS AGAINST KEN NORTON
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 20 Aug 2025
  • Pasig and Quezon City top 1st PCAP Rated Open championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 20 Aug 2025
  • Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford Full Fight Card Revealed
    , Wed, 20 Aug 2025
  • Sadam Ali's career highlight: Defeating Terence Crawford to become 2008 U.S. Olympian
    , Wed, 20 Aug 2025
  • Irish amateur star Jim Donovan to make pro debut on Sept. 13th Outdoors at Windsor Park in Belfast
    , Wed, 20 Aug 2025
  • Boxer and Philanthropist Boyd Melson Awarded Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award by President Joe Biden
    , Wed, 20 Aug 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 18 AUGUST 2025: Itauma Stops Whyte in 1; Ball Outpoints Goodman; Hrgovic Decisions Adeleye; Yaqubov Defeats Foster
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 19 Aug 2025
  • Is Gilas Relying Too Much on Fil-Fors, Naturalised Players at Expense of Locals?
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 19 Aug 2025
  • YOELVIS "LA JOYA" GOMEZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Tue, 19 Aug 2025
  • Efren "Bata" Reyes Yalin 10-Ball Championship offers a total pot prizes of P2 million to the winners
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 19 Aug 2025
  • Llover nears IBF title shot
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 19 Aug 2025
  • Basil fights Escriber for vacant interim PBF light flyweight on Aug. 23
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 19 Aug 2025
  • James Perkins crowned the new WBC U.S. Silver Light Heavyweight title
    , Tue, 19 Aug 2025
  • Team USA Travels to England for 2025 World Boxing Championships Preparation Camp
    , Tue, 19 Aug 2025
  • Peter Kahn Signs Undefeated Super Flyweight Juanmita Lopez DeJesus To Managerial Contract
    , Tue, 19 Aug 2025
  • Cortejos to face unbeaten Fitzgerald for Australian light title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 19 Aug 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.