Denver blitzed the Lakers with big runs at the start of each half to blow Los Angeles out of the Pepsi Center 113-96 in Game 6 on Thursday, forcing a decisive Game 7 at Staples Center on Saturday night. The Nuggets ran out to a 13-0 lead to start the game, finally finding their outside shooting range after bricking their way through the first five games. The Lakers cut the deficit to 54-45 at the half, but couldn't come close to matching the Nuggets' energy after the break. Denver went on a 9-0 run to start the third, and the rout was on. For a team whose biggest advantage is off the bench, the Nuggets dominated Game 6 with the starters on the floor at the beginning of both halves in Game 6.
LOS ANGELES -- Forget about Matt Barnes, Mavericks fans.
LOS ANGELES -- Five players, three fans and one jersey were all tossed Thursday night at Staples Center, evidence that April in the NBA has finally arrived.
Los Angeles Lakers basketball player Matt Barnes was arrested Wednesday on domestic violence charges, authorities said.
LOS ANGELES -- The easiest way to engender Kobe Bryant's affection is with a throat slash, a clothesline, or a ball in the face. Throw a few elbows in his ribs for good measure, don't forget to mention in the post-game press conference that he is coddled by referees, and chances are you will have a guaranteed contract with the Lakers come summer. Such is the example set by Ron Artest, Raja Bell and most recently Matt Barnes, who was introduced by the Lakers on Tuesday, less than five months after he pretended to throw a chest pass off Bryant's nose.
Not many players would find a silver lining in giving up 50 points to any one of the NBA's biggest stars, but then not many players face a nightly assault like Milwaukee's Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.
As important as Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis were in navigating Orlando to the Finals last season, the Magic may not have even been in position to run through the Eastern Conference were it not for Jameer Nelson.
SI.com will analyze each of the NBA's 30 teams as regular-season tip-off approaches. For a complete list of team-by-team breakdowns, click here. The information in the "Go figure" category below is provided by Roland Beech of 82games.com.
When it comes to grading the offseason, the Pacific Division is a nightmare. Kobe Bryant's trade demand and Don Nelson's contract squabble have put the status of the Lakers and Warriors in doubt. Meanwhile, the Clippers and Kings mostly stood pat in hopes their veteran-laden rosters could get them back to the playoffs without radical overhauls. Is that a good or a bad thing? Only the Suns are an easy read, as the reigning three-time division champs appear primed for another run at an NBA title.
SI.com: Sweet surpriseupdated: Thu May 10 2007 01:23:00
Matt Barnes is a first bus kind of guy.
SI.com: Fear the Warriors updated: Tue May 08 2007 09:17:00
Of the eight teams still playing, the Warriors are the most frightening. Not because of the abundant ink blotches that crawl up the arms and neck of forward Matt Barnes like a fungus, or because their gold-T-shirted fans in full throat are as intimidating as an Oakland Raiders crowd from the early 1980s, or because thespian wild man Woody Harrelson, a close friend of coach Don Nelson, has become one of Golden State's WE BELIEVE faithful.
SI.com: Golden boysupdated: Fri May 04 2007 03:29:00
OAKLAND -- It ended and there was Don Nelson waiting to start his press conference, looking at a TNT feed and seeing Charles Barkley wearing a yellow "WE BELIEVE" T-shirt. Nelson cackled long and hard, then raised his Bud Light and called out, "The Chuckster!"
SI.com: Shock treatmentupdated: Tue May 01 2007 10:20:00
A month ago the Mavs were chasing 70 wins. Now they might be on the verge of making history of a far different sort.
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