The Lakers are still the team to beat. They are the defending champions after all. But with that said they are not the team to beat right now.
Who is? The New Orleans Hornets. The Hornets are the only team left in the 2010-11 season that has yet to suffer a loss. Last night the first loss for the Lakers came at the hands of Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets. It was a tight battle most of the second half until pint sized Ty Lawson helped to break it open down the stretch…
Carmelo Anthony had 32 points and 13 rebounds to rally the Denver Nuggets past Los Angeles 118-112 on Thursday night, handing the Lakers their first loss of the season.
Kobe Bryant scored a season-high 34 points and Pau Gasol had 17 points and 20 rebounds for the Lakers, who were trying to win their first nine games for the first time since the 1997-98 season.
Bryant came in needing 17 points to reach 26,000 for his career. He hit the milestone with a 13-foot jumper 49 seconds into the third quarter.
Nene had 18 points and Ty Lawson scored 17 for the Nuggets, who snapped a two-game skid.
Down 105-103, the Nuggets took over. A 3-pointer by J.R. Smith and two baskets by Anthony sparked an 11-0 run that gave Denver the lead for good.
Los Angeles was leading by 10 early in the fourth when the Nuggets rallied behind Lawson. The speedy point guard scored 11 points in a 16-0 run that gave them a 101-95 lead.
Read more details via AP on NYTimes.com
