The frontcourt depth of the Los Angeles Lakers proved to be too much for the Denver Nuggets to handle in the opening game of their playoff series, as the Lakers cruised to a 103-88 victory.
Andrew Bynum was the story of the opening game, as he completely dominated in the paint and recorded a triple-double. Bynum scored 10 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and tied an NBA postseason record with 10 blocked shots. Pau Gasol scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Jordan Hill came off the bench to record a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards. Kobe Bryant found his groove in the second half and finished up with a game-high 31 points.
With Bynum dominating the paint, the Nuggets struggled to connect from the perimeter, shooting only 35.6% from the field as a team. Danilo Gallinari was the lone starter to score in double-figures, as he led the way with a team-high 19 points. With Ty Lawson struggling, Andre Miller came off the bench to score 12 points, grab eight rebounds and dish out seven assists.
For more on these teams, visit Nuggets blog Denver Stiffs and Lakers blog Silver Screen and Roll. Head over to SB Nation NBA for more news and notes on the 2012 NBA Playoffs.