Lakers fends off Nuggets to take 3-2 series lead
2009-05-28 06:41:24 GMT2009-05-28 14:41:24 (Beijing Time)
Xinhua English
Pau Gasol (front) of the Los Angeles Lakers vies for the ball during Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference final basketball playoff game against Denver Nuggets in Los Angeles, the United States, May 27, 2009.(Xinhua/Qi Heng)
Kobe Bryant (L) of the Los Angeles Lakers drives the ball during Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference final basketball playoff game against Denver Nuggets in Los Angeles, the United States, May 27, 2009.(Xinhua/Qi Heng)
Carmelo Anthony (R) of the Denver Nuggets shoots the ball during Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference final basketball playoff game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles, the United States, May 27, 2009.(Xinhua/Qi Heng)
Kenyon Martin of Denver Nuggets (R) tries to dunk the ball over Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers during Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference final basketball playoff game in Los Angeles, the United States, May 27, 2009.(Xinhua/Qi Heng)
Kobe Bryant (L) of the Los Angeles Lakers passes the ball during Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference final basketball playoff game against Denver Nuggets in Los Angeles, the United States, May 27, 2009.(Xinhua/Qi Heng)
WASHINGTON, May 27 (Xinhua) -- The Los Angeles Lakers outclassed the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter for a 103-94 hard fought win in the game five of the Western Conference finals, earning the top seeds a 3-2 lead in the series.
All-Star guard Kobe Bryant scored 22 points and reserve forward Lamar Odom contributed 19, along with 14 rebounds, as the Lakers maintained home court advantage.
The best-of-seven series shifts to Denver for Friday's Game Six.
Carmelo Anthony poured in a game-high 31 points for the Nuggets, who led 73-66 late in the third quarter before the Lakers finally took control of the match.
