Los Angeles - Carmelo Anthony was under the weather and hobbling, but his teammates stepped up to change the climate of the Western Conference finals. JR Smith and Chauncey Billups scored 24 points apiece, as the Nuggets rocked the visiting Los Angeles Lakers 120-101 on Monday night, to level the best-of-seven series at 2-2.
"It's very satisfying to win a game knowing I wasn't a 100 per cent out there," said Anthony, who finished with 15 points on just 3- of-16 field goal shooting.
Anthony said he caught a stomach virus before the game and needed a couple of IV's during halftime to energize him. To make matters worse, the Nuggets top scorer twisted his ankle.
"I felt like I had no energy out there," Anthony said. "Even before I twisted my ankle, with my stomach, I didn't have my legs early in the game. Those IVs were a must. They helped a little bit. I'll be OK for Wednesday."
With Anthony ailing, the Nuggets received timely contributions from reserves Smith, Chris "Birdman" Andersen (14 rebounds) and Linas Kleiza (10 points) as the bench outscored the Lakers' substitutes 45-24.
"The last two or three games our bench hasn't been as productive as they have been in the playoffs," Anthony explained. "Tonight, all of them stepped up big. JR stepped up big, Linas Kleiza came in and hit some big shots and Birdman was just phenomenal."
"It just shows we have heart and can play with a man down," Smith said. "We did a lot this year and kept it up."
The Nuggets relied on a balanced attack and domination on the boards, 58-40 at both ends, in front of a delirious sold out crowd at the Pepsi Centre to lead virtually the entire game.
"Rebounding is a big part of the series, and I think our ball club bought back into it," Denver coach George Karl said. "We constantly got to the rim and it gave us extra possessions and more opportunities."
Kenyon Martin had 13 points with 15 rebounds, Brazilian-native Nene added 14 with 13 boards for Denver, which bounced back after letting Saturday's Game Three slip away in the closing seconds.
Kobe Bryant scored 34 points, Spain's Pau Gasl had 21 with 10 rebounds, while Andrew Bynum added 14 points for the Lakers, who despite the loss regained home court advantage.
"We did out job in terms of coming here and getting one of these games," Bryant said. "Now it's time to go home and see if we can take care of business."
The Lakers have been criticized for turning up their game when necessary. When asked if they believe it, Bryant laughed.
"No, they just kicked our butts," he said. "It's not like we can turn it on and turn it off. They whooped us, period. There's no switch. We played hard, they played harder and better."
Lakers coach Phil Jackson complained the way the game was called. It featured four technical fouls and 84 free throws, 49 by the Nuggets.
"Basketball is a game where the aggressor gets the advantage. And tonight we didn't know what a foul was and what wasn't a foul," he said.
"Start of the game, we got guys knocked around going to the basket, they said, 'We are going to let those things go.' By the end of the ballgame little fouls were being called all over the place.
"That's not how we wanted to play, so the momentum changes in a ballgame like that. You are always on your heels, the guys are in foul trouble, and then you are not the aggressor anymore. You are the guy defensively playing the game and that's what I don't like.""
Denver led 52-45 at halftime and carried a 77-66 advantage into the final frame. But when Bynum opened the period with consecutive baskets the lead was sliced to four.
Denver responded. Billups triggered a 13-4 run with a conventional three-point play, then drained a three-pointer before Smith's dunk. After Billups' free throw, Kleiza knocked down a three, and the lead swelled to 89-73 with 9:10 remaining.
Trailing 102-88, Bryant helped the Lakers to cut the deficit to 10 with 3:09 left. However, Billups made two free throws, and a breakaway layup off a steal. Smith followed with back-to-back three- point daggers, making it 113-96.
The Lakers host pivotal Game Five is Wednesday night. Billups would like nothing better than to dash the hype of a possible NBA Finalsmatch-up between Bryant and league-MVP LeBron James.
"I'm sure the world wants to see Cleveland and the Lakers in the NBA Finals," he said. "You have got the best two players in the world, a chance to see them play in a seven-game series. I don't want to see it. I'm trying my best not to make that happen."
