Denver Nuggets: 15 greatest playoff moments of all-time

3. Ty Lawson’s 32 forces Game 7 vs. Lakers

• 2012 Western Conference Quarterfinals, Game 6
• May 10, 2012 (Pepsi Center, Denver, CO)
• Denver Nuggets 113, Los Angeles Lakers 96

We just touched on The JaVale McGee Game, the one where he had a double-double in this best-of-seven, first-round series versus the Los Angeles Lakers. That performance by McGee on the road in Game 5 in an elimination game was all about heart.

Turns out, the Nuggets weren’t done in that best-of-seven series even beyond the McGee game. Denver wanted to take the Lakers to the brink. This is when Ty Lawson was at the peak of his powers, as he was utterly dominant in Game 6 at the Pepsi Center on May 10, 2012 to force a win-or-go-home Game 7 in STAPLES Center a few days later.

After McGee lifted the Nuggets, along with Andre Miller off the bench, in Game 5’s 102-99 victory in Los Angeles, it would be Lawson who carried Denver in Game 6. He had a game-high 32 points in the Nuggets’ thrilling blowout victory over the Lakers, 113-96.

Lawson edged out Kobe Bryant in scoring, who had 31 points to lead Los Angeles. However, he was a bit under the weather during the game and Denver had no problem whatsoever taking advantage of the Lakers’ star player not being at 100 percent.

Lawson scored his 32 points on 13-of-18 shooting, including a blistering 5-of-6 from 3-point range. He was able to lead Denver in scoring, despite being just 1-of-3 at the charity stripe. Lawson also added six assists and five rebounds to his ledger for the ball game against the Lakers.

Corey Brewer, Kenneth Faried, Danilo Gallinari and Miller all scored in double figures for the Nuggets, but without Lawson’s 32 points, who knows if Denver even wins this game? Though they still had to play the Lakers in STAPLES Center, there was belief that the Nuggets could finally slay the dreaded Lakers to win a playoff series entering Game 7.

Unfortunately, Los Angeles would right the ship and sink Denver narrowly 96-87 to win the Western Conference Quarterfinals to advance. The Nuggets would sadly fall to 0-6 all-time versus the Lakers in a playoff series. This remains the closest Denver has ever come to ending the Lakers’ season in the postseason.

With the Lakers being arguably the most dysfunctional team in the Western Conference in 2018-19, who is to say when the Lakers and the Nuggets will be meeting in the NBA Playoffs again. Yes, the Lakers have LeBron James, but an aging “Chosen One” and a bunch of dudes don’t match Michael Malone’s bunch heading into the next decade of the 21st century. Maybe the seventh time is the charm for the Rocky Mountain faithful?