MVP front-runner Kobe Bryant started fast and finished with a flurry.
Bryant poured in 49 points — one shy of his playoff career-high — to go along with 10 assists, carrying the Los Angeles Lakers past the visiting Denver Nuggets 122-107 on Wednesday night for a 2-0 lead in their opening round Western Conference playoff series.
“It doesn’t matter to me what numbers I put up, I’m here to win,” said Bryant, said hit 18-of-27 field goals. Spain’s Pau Gasol had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the top-seeded Lakers while Luke Walton also scored 18 points off the bench.
PHOTO: AP
“I’m impressed, but I’m not surprised,” Walton said. “This is Kobe pretty much every night, that’s why we think he should be the league MVP.”
Bryant burned the Nuggets’ man-to-man coverage for 25 points in the first half, including 20 in the opening quarter, sparking the Lakers to a 59-49 lead.
In the third quarter, the Nuggets’ went to a zone coverage, but Bryant crossed their strategy by setting up his teammates for easy baskets.
“Everybody tried to zero in on me and take me out of my groove, but we’re used to this,” he said, “My teammates made cuts, that kind of softened it up for me to go back at it in the fourth quarter.”
The Lakers carried an 89-79 advantage into the final frame that was sliced to 98-93 with 7:16 remaining. However, Bryant ran off 19 points, opening up a 120-101 cushion, before leaving at the 2:02 mark.
Allen Iverson led the Nuggets with 31 points. Carmelo Anthony added 23 points, J.R. Smith had a career playoff high 21.
The Nuggets will look to regroup and claw back into the series when they host game three tomorrow.
Celtics 96, Hawks 77
Kevin Garnett had 19 points with 10 rebounds and the top-seeded Celtics routed the visiting Hawks for the second straight game for a 2-0 advantage in the first round of their Eastern Conference series.
Ray Allen scored 15 points, Paul Pierce followed with 14 while Rajon Rondo finished with 12 and eight assists for the Celtics, who dominated the opener 104-81.
Marvin Williams and Josh Smith scored 13 points apiece for the Hawks, who were held to 38 percent (23-of-60) field goal shooting and committed 21 turnovers.
Atlanta will host game three tomorrow.
Pistons 105, 76ers 88
Rick Hamilton led five players in double figures with 20 points and the Pistons pounded the visiting 76ers in Game Two to level their Eastern Conference opening-round series.
The second-seeded Pistons blew a 17-point lead and were stunned 90-86 in the opener. However, they led from start to finish and by as many as 26 in the bounce-back win against the seventh-seeded Sixers.
Antonio McDyess had 16 points with 12 rebounds while Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince also contributed 16 points apiece for the Pistons.
Lou Williams led Philadelphia with 17 points.
Philadelphia will host game three today.
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