Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - With Kobe Bryant sidelined for a fourth
consecutive game, Matt Barnes provided a spark off the bench by scoring a
season-high 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers
clinched a playoff spot with in a 103-97 victory over the Nuggets.
Andrew Bynum netted a game-high 30 points and Pau Gasol contributed 14 points
and 10 rebounds in the win, Los Angeles' third in a row and seventh in nine
tries.
Andre Miller paced Denver with 20 points while Al Harrington and Arron Afflalo
donated 18 apiece in a losing effort. The Nuggets, who saw a two-game winning
streak snapped, are tied with Houston for seventh in the Western Conference.
Ninth-place Phoenix is just a game back and Utah is lurking 1 1/2 games
behind.
Denver's next two games are against the Rockets, Sunday and Monday.
The Sports Network