Lakers come back and defeat Nuggets

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sasha Vujacic did his best impersonation of Kobe Bryant, dominating the fourth quarter with his perimeter shooting.

Bryant scored 24 points, but remained on the bench during the final 12 minutes while Vujacic scored 19 of his career-high 22 points to power the Los Angeles Lakers to a 127-99 rout of the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night. The victory was completed just hours after coach Phil Jackson received a two-year contract extension.

“I was having fun, but it’s not just because of the 22 points I scored. It’s my teammates. They gave me open looks and believed in me,” said Vujacic, who shot 6-for-14 in 21 minutes of action. “Denver played a lot of zone, so coach asked me to move from corner to corner to overload the side, and we did a great job sharing the basketball. The way we swing the ball around, it was just unbelievable.”

Andrew Bynum had 12 points and 13 rebounds, and Luke Walton added a career-high 14 points in 27 minutes.

Los Angeles’ much-improved second unit played so spectacularly and efficiently down the stretch that Bryant was reduced to spectator status — despite the fact that Los Angeles led by only six points after three. The Lakers’ reserves outscored their Denver counterparts 63-29.

“The young fellas came in and took care of business,” Bryant said. “We have young players who have a lot of heart and who care. And when you have that combination, you have a lot of potential. In the past, I’ve always been the only guy in the gym really working hard. But now I’ve got guys in there with me pushing themselves every single day, and that makes a big difference.”

Denver’s lost it third straight following a 7-1 stretch. Carmelo Anthony led Denver with 23 points, and Allen Iverson had 21.

J.R. Smith opened the fourth with a layup that cut Los Angeles’ lead to 81-77. The Lakers then went on a 24-8 run that extended the margin to 105-85. Vujacic scored the Lakers’ last seven points of the rally — two free throws, followed by a 3-pointer and then a 20-footer with 6:41 to play.

“It just happened to be his night tonight,” Bryant said. “He had a hot hand. The ball started flowing to him, he had some open looks and he was able to knock them down. We really need him out there for defense, more than anything. But when there are shots available to him, it’s important that he knocks them down.”

Earlier in the run, Vujacic was fouled by Eduardo Najera behind the 3-point line and sank all three free throws. Anthony was ejected with 6:18 remaining after committing a flagrant foul against Vujacic, hitting him in the throat away from the ball.

“It wasn’t intentionally done,” Anthony said. “I hope people don’t overreact.”

When Vujacic was told that Anthony accused him of embellishing the foul by flopping, the Lakers’ reserve guard responded with a bemused grin.

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