Pepsi Center

About 50 Iraq war veterans led a boisterous crowd of about 4,000 protesters to the gates of the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday evening, demanding to speak at the podium inside. The four-mile march began at the site of a concert by leftist rock group Rage Against the Machine. It ended five hours later, after the Obama campaign resolved a tense standoff outside the Pepsi Center by agreeing to meet with representatives of the group, Iraq Veterans Against the War. The marchers said they wanted to hold Obama to his promise to end the Iraq war and called for him to pull troops out immediately.

Things to watch when the Lakers play the Denver Nuggets Thursday night at Pepsi Center. The Lakers have a 3-2 series lead. 1. Which Andrew Bynum will show up? The Lakers center might want to follow Eminem's lead and prove that the "real Andrew Bynum will stand up . " The only problem: few can anticipate who that will be. Bynum has played this first-round series against Denver with a Jekyll-and-Hyde persona. As Dr. Jekyll, Bynum has played as the league's best center.

Things to watch when the Lakers play the Denver Nuggets Thursday night at Pepsi Center. The Lakers have a 3-2 series lead. 1. Which Andrew Bynum will show up? The Lakers center might want to follow Eminem's lead and prove that the "real Andrew Bynum will stand up . " The only problem: few can anticipate who that will be. Bynum has played this first-round series against Denver with a Jekyll-and-Hyde persona. As Dr. Jekyll, Bynum has played as the league's best center.

When: 6 PDT. Where: Pepsi Center. On the air: TV: NBC Sports Network; Radio: 830. Records: Ducks 29-30-10. Avalanche 36-30-4. Record vs. Avalanche: 1-2. Update: Forward Corey Perry was limited to only a couple of shifts in the third period in Dallas on Saturday after injuring his right shoulder, coming on a controversial hit from the Stars' Stephane Robidas. Robidas received a boarding minor on the play. Perry had X-rays, which the Ducks said were negative, and received treatment Sunday, according to the team.

Lakers at Denver, 6 PDT, Channel 9 Site -- Pepsi Center. Radio -- 570, 1330. Records -- Lakers 2-0, Nuggets 1-1. Record vs. Nuggets (2007-08) -- 3-0. Update -- Denver forward Carmelo Anthony returns after serving a two-game suspension for his arrest last April on suspicion of drunk driving. Including a four-game playoff sweep in the first round, the Lakers were 7-0 against the Nuggets last season. The Lakers won their playoff games against Denver by an average of 13.3 points.

Time: 5 PST. On the air: TV: Channel 9; Radio: 710, 1330. Where: Pepsi Center. Records: Lakers 3-2; Nuggets 2-2. Update: The Lakers beat the Nuggets on Saturday, 92-89, but have struggled in recent games in Denver, losing four of their last five. The Lakers have lost the season series against the Nuggets three of the last five seasons.

Kings today AT COLORADO When: noon PDT. Where: Pepsi Center, Denver. On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 1150. Records: Kings 45-27-9, Avalanche 43-30-8. Record vs. Avalanche: 2-0-1. Update: This is the regular-season finale for both teams. Neither was expected to make the playoffs, but both qualified. Both have slipped lately too. The Kings have played four consecutive shootouts, losing three. They can still finish fifth in the Western Conference but need help.

A Barack Obama look-alike making the rounds at the Democratic National Convention briefly fooled press and spectators alike. Gerardo Puisseaux lives in Miami and works for the online Spanish-language news channel America TeVe. He was a construction worker until he was recruited for a reality show. His routine: He shows up, and the cameras capture how people react. He had a press pass into the Pepsi Center. Despite his height (too short), he resembled Obama enough to create a stir.

When: 6 PDT. Where: Pepsi Center. On the air: TV: NBC Sports Network; Radio: 830. Records: Ducks 29-30-10. Avalanche 36-30-4. Record vs. Avalanche: 1-2. Update: Forward Corey Perry was limited to only a couple of shifts in the third period in Dallas on Saturday after injuring his right shoulder, coming on a controversial hit from the Stars' Stephane Robidas. Robidas received a boarding minor on the play. Perry had X-rays, which the Ducks said were negative, and received treatment Sunday, according to the team.

For a starting NBA center, Michael Olowokandi's 5.8 rebounding average is nothing to brag about. But the Clippers' third-year big man averages a rebound for every four minutes he plays, which is one reason Coach Alvin Gentry may start playing Olowokandi more late in games. Failure to grab key defensive rebounds has hurt the Clippers all season and it cost them in Monday's 85-82 loss to Indiana at Staples Center.

Time: 5 PST. On the air: TV: Channel 9; Radio: 710, 1330. Where: Pepsi Center. Records: Lakers 3-2; Nuggets 2-2. Update: The Lakers beat the Nuggets on Saturday, 92-89, but have struggled in recent games in Denver, losing four of their last five. The Lakers have lost the season series against the Nuggets three of the last five seasons.

Reporting from Denver They knew that Denver shot plenty of free throws but not that the Nuggets relocated there and practically took up permanent residence on the line Friday night. "Fifty-nine free throws, bro," one of the Clippers said in the locker room after the Nuggets beat them, 109-104, at Pepsi Center. The number circulated around the room and the Clippers could only shake their heads and almost laugh in disbelief. It was a better choice than tears after they lost for the ninth time in nine road games.

The Lakers' demise came in the fourth quarter. It came when the Denver Nuggets ripped apart the Lakers' defense. It came when the Lakers eschewed their offense. It came when the Lakers loaded up and took a bunch of three-pointers without any thought. The cost of all of that for the Lakers was a 118-112 loss to the Nuggets on Thursday night at the Pepsi Center, a loss that snapped the Lakers' season-opening eight-game winning streak. When asked for his thoughts on how the Lakers played in the decisive fourth quarter, Coach Phil Jackson was absolute.

Reporting from Denver ? Kobe Bryant's shot abandoned him. Pau Gasol no longer scored with ease. Shannon Brown, of all people, tried to keep the Lakers among the undefeated, but it all dissolved in front of an overjoyed Pepsi Center crowd, the Denver Nuggets dropping the Lakers on Thursday, 118-112. The Lakers surrendered 33 points in the fourth quarter, their defense sputtering badly, matched in ineffectiveness only by Bryant's outside touch. Bryant had 34 points but made only 11 of 32 shots.

Kings today AT COLORADO When: noon PDT. Where: Pepsi Center, Denver. On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 1150. Records: Kings 45-27-9, Avalanche 43-30-8. Record vs. Avalanche: 2-0-1. Update: This is the regular-season finale for both teams. Neither was expected to make the playoffs, but both qualified. Both have slipped lately too. The Kings have played four consecutive shootouts, losing three. They can still finish fifth in the Western Conference but need help.

Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum sat out Thursday's game. Shockingly, the rest of the Lakers didn't join them. The Lakers added a new twist to their late-season swoon, losing a close one to the Denver Nuggets without two starters as Bryant joined Bynum on the list of injured players because of swelling in his right knee. Pau Gasol had 26 points and Ron Artest had 22 as the Lakers almost staged a surprise party before falling, 98-96, Thursday at Pepsi Center. They had a chance to clinch the Western Conference, but Derek Fisher's three-point attempt at the buzzer was blocked by Carmelo Anthony, their solid effort Thursday merely becoming their fifth loss in the last nine games.