Nuggets 106, Lakers 103

Lakers center Andrew Bynum is fouled by Denver power forward Kenyon Martin on a drive down the lane in the first half Thursday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers power forward Pau Gasol holds his ground as Denver forward Carmelo Anthony tries to drive the baseline in Game 2 on Thursday night.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers center Andrew Bynum strips the ball from Denver center Nene in the first half Thursday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant dunks over Denver center Chris Andersen in Game 2 on Thursday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony gets inside of Lakers forward Trevor Ariza on a drive to the basket in the first half Thursday night.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers power forward Pau Gasol battles Nuggets center Chris Andersen for a rebound in Game 2 on Thursday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers center Andrew Bynum cuts off the drive of Denver guard Dahntay Jones in the first half Thursday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Denver point guard Chauncey Billups slips a pass around Lakers forward Lamar Odom in the first half Thursday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Actress Teri Hatcher cheers on the Denver Nuggets in the first half Thursday night during Game 2 of the Western Conference finals at Staples Center.   (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Lamar Odom puts away a dunk in the first half of Game 2 on Thursday night.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Trevor Ariza dunks over Nuggets guard Dahntay Jones in the second half Thursday night.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Trevor Ariza finishes off a dunk in Game 2 on Thursday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers power forward Pau Gasol is called for a foul as he grabs the arm of Denver center Nene while rebounding Thursday night.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson questions a call by a referee during Game 2 at Staples Center on Thursday night.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers power forward Pau Gasol has the ball knocked away by Nuggets power forward Kenyon Martin in Game 2 on Thursday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony tries to fend off the double-team defense of Lakers power forward Pau Gasol and forward Trevor Ariza but ended up turning the ball over in the second half Thursday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony discusses a call with a referee Thursday night during Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers center Andrew Bynum fakes Denver guard Dahntay Jones into jumping in Game 2 on Thursday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers center Andrew Bynum tries to get a shot off against a leaping Dahntay Jones of the Nuggets in Game 2 on Thursday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers power forward Pau Gasol is fouled in the fourth quarter as he challenges Denver big men Chris Andersen and Nene on Thursday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers point guard Derek Fisher has the ball knocked away by Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony in Game 2 on Thursday night.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Denver guard Dahntay Jones steals a pass from Lakers point guard Derek Fisher intended for Kobe Bryant in Game 2 on Thursday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Nuggets center Chris Andersen tries to swat a pass away from Lakers center Pau Gasol on Thursday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic reacts after being called for a foul in Game 2 on Thursday night.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers power forward Pau Gasol and Denver center Nene react after Gasol was called for kicking the ball in the second half Thursday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers point guard Jordan Farmar picks up a loose ball that got batted his direction after a rebounding battle by Lakers guard Shannon Brown and Nuggets Anthony Carter and Chris Andersen in Game 2 on Thursday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Pau Gasol and Denver forward Carmelo Anthony react after Anthony was fouled by forward Lamar Odom in the second half Thursday night.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Kobe Bryant has been ranked as the 40th best player in the NBA by ESPN.com  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers power forward Pau Gasol sits on a cooler after getting called for a foul in Game 2 on Thursday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Luke Walton knocks the ball from Denver forward Carmelo Anthony, but Walton was called for a foul on the play in the second half Thursday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic roots for his teammates from the bench during the fourth quarter Thursday night.   (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Denver forward Carmelo Anthony, who scored a game-high 34 points, celebrates after making a basket late in the game Thursday night.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant tries to retain possession of the ball after losing control of his dribble near Denver center Nene in the second half Thursday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers power forward Pau Gasol scrambles for a loose ball with Denver guard Chauncey Billups after guard Kobe Bryant lost control of the dribble in the final minute of the game Thursday night.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers power forward Pau Gasol and Denver center Nene battle for a loose ball as teammates call for timeout in the final minute of Game 2 on Thursday night.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Trevor Ariza looks for a foul call when he loses control of the ball after collecting the tip on a jump ball in the final minute of the game Thursday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers point guard Derek Fisher releases a last-second three-pointer over Denver center Nene in an attempt to tie the score in Game 2 on Thursday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers point guard Derek Fisher and fans react after his last-second three-point shot drew nothing but air in Game 2 on Thursday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers power forward Pau Gasol walks off the court after losing to the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 on Thursday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)