Three Games - Clinch Playoff Berth - Lakers Turn To B

Kobe Bryant didn't play. Mike Brown didn't coach. Andrew Bynum failed to acquire 30 rebounds.

It didn't matter.

The Lakers exhausted the Denver Nuggets , 103-97, Friday at , improving that will 3-1 considering Bryant was sidelined simply by a new tender still left shin.

Bynum had 30 points and Matt Barnes possessed twenty-four to the Lakers, which enjoyed helper discipline John Kuester in control when Brown eventually left easily because of friends and family reasons.

Brown attended through his normal pregame briefing together with reporters related to ninety days moments ahead of tipoff nevertheless advancing residence immediately after that. He can be likely to gain for your Lakers' sport Sunday next to Dallas, according to somewhat of a staff official.

"These people journeyed away this evening in addition to needed to symbolize Mike Brown as best they oftentimes can, that is certainly precisely what they did," Kuester said.

Without Brown along with Bryant, the idea served to own Bynum and Barnes .

Bynum failed to approach the head-turning 30 rebounds he took Wednesday next to San Antonio but taken through on the pledge to raise his shooting.

He made 11 regarding nineteen photographs Friday once making exclusively 24 involving 64 while in the previous several online games (37.5%). He had eight rebounds Friday.

"Early amongst players I idea it turned out going for being yet another unattractive night pertaining to me," stated Bynum, which missed six associated with their first 10 shots. "I was qualified to find my catch and commenced rolling."

Barnes had 24 points, his maximum end result in a couple of conditions while using Lakers. He ended up being specifically helpful from the last minutes, setting up a three -pointer, scoring with a traveling layup as well as giving Bynum to get a dunk using a lob out of in the vicinity of midcourt.

He built nine associated with 11 photographs about another night time with no Bryant, who will be walking pain free but however won't possess a routine for just a return.

Bryant could today start jogging again, in case this is definitely pain-free, start tools of which involve jumping. If now there is zero irritation at that point, when called he'll be cleaned to be able to play.

There's an opportunity he / she will pass up the remaining belonging to the regular season, even though it really is considered your longshot.

Bryant perched out eight consecutive adventures to absolve the regular season?

"I don't even think so," Brown stated before your game. "We suspected it absolutely was visiting end up being a process. We believed it

was a trauma wherever many of us did not need to hurry him back. But he is making progress."

If the Lakers (38-22) preserve winning, there is not any need to motivate him or her in to the lineup. They clinched some sort of playoff berth Friday, and with five online games left it is going to please take a great deal for your Clippers or Memphis in order to pass these folks intended for third place within the Western Conference.

Even if your Lakers finish 3-3 affordable your stretch, that Clippers need to visit 6-1 as well as should finish off 8-0 to be able to pass them. The Lakers individual head-to-head tiebreakers alongside each teams.

There's a new moderate possibility the actual Lakers in addition to Nuggets (32-27) could satisfy inside first round belonging to the playoffs, which will might be entertaining.

Denver's former about three online games next to the Lakers were some sort of three-point loss, a four-point damage along with a nine-point victory.

Nothing ended up being quick Friday for your Lakers. They directed by 15 beginning within the second quarter, saw them chopped to help two, increased them again to help thirteen but was mandated to fight into the end following the item obtained sliced to help one.

Metta World Peace continuing his latest run regarding sturdy play. He implemented upwards his 26-point outburst versus San Antonio his nearly all within several periods while using Lakers having age 14 tips and nine rebounds Friday.

The Lakers maintain winning, irrespective of that is coaching or maybe playing.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com