Lakers’ Week 9 in review: Lakers beat Nuggets, lose three straight

The Lakers finished Week 9 with a 5-26 record, getting one win in four tries.

Kobe Bryant helped lead the Lakers to a 111-107 win over the Nuggets in Denver, giving a vintage performance. With the victory over the Nuggets, the Lakers got their first win over a Western Conference opponent.

Lakers rookie Larry Nance Jr., who went to school at nearby Wyoming, was surrounded by fans in Denver.

Bryant had missed the Lakers’ loss last week to the Oklahoma City Thunder with a sore shoulder -- a loss so bad, even Magic Johnson was almost tweetless.

The Lakers got a quick rematch on Wednesday against the Thunder, this time at Staples Center in L.A. with a healthy Bryant. After playing well initially, the Lakers fell apart with the Thunder using a 36-2 run to blow out the Lakers, 120-85.

On Christmas, the Lakers hosted the Clippers in Bryant’s final holiday as a Laker, the 16th of his career -- in a game against longtime rival Paul Pierce.

Neither the Lakers nor the Clippers are living up to their own expectations this season, but the Clippers got past the Lakers handily, 98-84. The Lakers’ reserves helped make the game close with a big fourth quarter.

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Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said he doesn’t mind Bryant leading Blake Griffin in All-Star voting. DeAndre Jordan was giving credit for a jump shot, thanks to Nance tipping the ball into the Lakers’ basket.

The Lakers finished the week in Memphis, falling to the Grizzlies 112-96. Bryant thought about sitting with a sore knee but didn’t want to disappoint the fans, who “lobbied” for him to play.

When the Lakers hit January, the schedule will turn home-heavy after many, many road games.

Coach Byron Scott said until then, the team will keep Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell as reserves.

Tarik Black, who is not part of the Lakers’ regular rotation, played well on assignment in the NBA Development League with the D-Fenders.

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The Lakers will soon visit the Boston Celtics, for Bryant’s Beantown goodbye. The All-Star revealed how deeply the Lakers’ 2008 loss in the NBA Finals to the Celtics hurt him.

Bryant has listed the top five players and teams he has ever faced.

Meanwhile, the Lakers may benefit by matching a Jordan Clarkson offer sheet this summer.

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.

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