Denver Nuggets Basketball Team

Yeah, he said it. As a joke, Nick Van Exel insists. To get the guys laughing at a tough time. And he was misunderstood, he says now, not for the first, but for the worst and last time as a Laker. Van Exel said and did a lot of dead-serious things as a Laker, some wild, suspension-provoking things, and this is what he's going to be remembered for? "1-2-3 . . . Cancun!" It was a cold, cold time for the Lakers.

The Lakers pledged to play a physical game and did it. They promised to beat back the swagger and strut of the Denver Nuggets and succeeded. On an afternoon when little went right for Kobe Bryant, the Lakers boxed out their main rivals in the Western Conference, elbowing aside the Nuggets in a 95-89 victory Sunday at Staples Center. It took a second half of defensive resolve, specifically a fourth quarter in which the Lakers forced the Nuggets into five turnovers and five-for-19 shooting.

J.R. Smith has the ability to drive Denver Coach George Karl insane. How crazy? "Love him," Karl said after Smith drove the Lakers crazy with 24 points, four assists, two steals and his usual trash-talking ways during Denver's 120-101 victory in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals Monday night at the Pepsi Center. Karl paused for about two seconds and smiled. "And I hate him," Karl said affectionately about the wild, combustible Smith.

Not that we didn't already know what a gap there was between the West's best team and everyone else . . . Of course, in Sunday's first half when the Denver Nuggets, who had already beaten the Lakers twice by an average of 19.5 points, led them again by 13, it looked as if there was a new best team in the Western Conference, standings or no standings. Staving off panic locally, the Lakers came back to win . . . barely . . . going ahead to stay with 3 minutes 2 seconds left, even with Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups shooting a combined 11 for 31 and turning the ball over 13 times.

With a place in the National Basketball Assn.'s Western Conference championship series in Dallas' sights, it was Rolando Blackman, not high-scoring Mark Aguirre, who got the ball in the clutch. Blackman scored nine consecutive points in the fourth period to lead the Mavericks to a 108-95 victory over the Denver Nuggets Thursday night. "I wanted the ball in my hands," Blackman said. "I live for those situations.

In a season of redemption, where the Lakers decided from day one to finish off what they couldn't a year ago, another authoritative step was taken toward an NBA championship. Those who questioned the Lakers' resolve were quieted. Those who wondered if they were too fatigued now know the answer.

Happily, little fazes the Denver Nuggets, whose Smoking Bus incident en route to Staples Center wasn't even their worst roadside mishap in the last week. They're still awaiting test results to see whether Carmelo Anthony was driving while intoxicated when he was stopped in Denver, although Lakers fans skipped that part and started chanting "D-U-I!" at Melo in Game 1. (When Nuggets fans assail Kobe Bryant a lot louder than that in Denver, Lakers fans will think that's low-class.

DENVER -- The Lakers are pulling together. The Denver Nuggets are ripping apart. It should make for an interesting Game 4. Drama isn't the Lakers' concern for the first time in forever, which is fine with them, seeing as how they're not the ones playing like a group of independent contractors wearing the same uniform to work. Tonight could be the last stand for the Nuggets and a declarative step for the Lakers, who haven't swept a playoff series since 2002.

DENVER -- OK, boys and girls, what time is it? Baseball season! With the Nuggets trailing the Lakers, 3-0, and the NHL Avalanche trailing Detroit, 2-0, it's getting late in the local winter sports season. Or seeing as how the Rockies, last season's National League champions (I know it sounds wrong but I looked it up), are back where they usually are in the NL West, maybe fans can go right to the NFL Broncos. Actually, Denver fans never leave the Broncos.

Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony said Tuesday he was "truly sorry" for his arrest on DUI charges, and police denied giving him special treatment, even though one officer gave him a lift after his arrest and another drove his car to a city lot. "I'm here to man up to my mistake, just to let you know that I'm truly sorry for what happened and everything that's going on," Anthony, 23, said in Denver with teammate Allen Iverson by his side.

Scores GAME 1: at Lakers 105, Nuggets 103 GAME 2: Nuggets 106, at Lakers 103 GAME 3: Lakers 103, at Nuggets 97 GAME 4: at Nuggets 120, Lakers 101 GAME 5: at Lakers 103, Nuggets 94 GAME 6: Lakers 119, at Nuggets 92 Ebb and flow Here we go again. So much for taking care of business early. In Game 1, the Lakers overcame another slow start behind Kobe Bryant's 40 points and Trevor Ariza's key steal of an inbounds pass with 30.5 seconds to play. Then in Game 2, the Lakers let a 14-point lead in the second quarter slip away, and the Nuggets made 17 consecutive free throws late in the game as the Lakers lost home-court advantage again.

For nearly a year, its memories have stuck to the Lakers' psyche like those of an awkward, embarrassing first date. At last, they are going on a second one. After absorbing a season of furious knocking, the door of the NBA Finals reopened again Friday to pleading guys in purple shorts, offering a chance at redemption and revival. Same gleaming prize. Much different suitor.

In a season of redemption, where the Lakers decided from day one to finish off what they couldn't a year ago, another authoritative step was taken toward an NBA championship. Those who questioned the Lakers' resolve were quieted. Those who wondered if they were too fatigued now know the answer.

George Karl stood with his back against the wall inside his team's hotel in Marina del Rey, his eyes darting when a question was raised about the officiating and whether it has had an effect on his Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals against the Lakers. Karl paused for five seconds to let the question soak in, to gather his thoughts. The coach cleared his throat and mumbled something, some of which was inaudible, some of which was uttered cautiously.

Can't we all just get along? Not this time of year. It's true, the thrust of human history suggests some progress. We not only don't burn witches at the stake anymore, they now have websites such as the one offering "news and networking for the Modern Witch, Wiccan and Pagan Community."

So, what exactly does $50,000 buy these days? "A Prius," said the green-minded Kobe Bryant, smiling. One Denver player apparently thought it was enough to secure a playoff game. As in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals between the Lakers and Nuggets. One quick thought: That's all? Then again, the economy is hitting everyone hard these days.

Being a model citizen this year wasn't enough to keep Nick Van Exel in L.A. For some strange reason, the better Nick Van Exel behaved the worse he played. After somehow managing to stick around after a tumultuous 1996-97 season in which he and Del Harris couldn't just get along, Van Exel was shipped to Denver on Wednesday after a season in which he was nice to Harris, nice to the officials and generally about as disruptive as a goldfish. He needed to rock the boat a little.

One night in the early fall of 1972 in the dank visitors' locker room at Boston Garden, brand-spanking-new Philadelphia 76er Coach Roy Rubin couldn't contain himself. His team had just knocked off the Celtics in an exhibition game and Rubin felt like, well, boasting. You know what it was? It was a victory for Philly cheese steak over New England clam chowder, and Rubin could just taste it. Gosh, Rubin hadn't been so excited since his coaching days at Long Island University.

Staff writer Mike Bresnahan ties up some loose ends on days of Lakers playoff games. Next? What will Nuggets fans do during the off-season? The Rockies are terrible, the Broncos traded away their franchise quarterback, and the Avalanche had the NHL's third-worst record. So when the Nuggets are eliminated, either tonight or Sunday, the next event at Pepsi Center will be Yanni's one-night engagement. Now that's truly awful.

Kenyon Martin is, if nothing else, a deeply practical man. And he can run the numbers in his head. That and the knowing sense that his wallet would get lighter with the more words he uttered in the locker room. "I'm saving my money, man," said the Denver Nuggets forward. " . . . I already gave them $25,000." This is why he didn't want to comment on the officiating in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.