Originally published April 19, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified April 19, 2008 at 12:01 AM

Western Conference matchups

Season series: Lakers 3-0. All three meetings were in the first half of the season before the Lakers added Pau Gasol. Los Angeles shredded Denver...

1. L.A. Lakers (57-25) 8. Denver (50-32)

Season series: Lakers 3-0. All three meetings were in the first half of the season before the Lakers added Pau Gasol. Los Angeles shredded Denver for 118 points per game, needing only 22 per game from Kobe Bryant. Allen Iverson had 51 for Denver in one loss and averaged 32 points.

Story line: A strong finish gave Bryant and the Lakers the No. 1 seed, but they get a dangerous first-round opponent that was only seven victories worse. Bryant (28.3), Iverson (26.4) and Carmelo Anthony (25.7) ranked 2-3-4 on the NBA's scoring list.

Key matchup: Bryant vs. Iverson. May not spend much time defending each other, but who cares? Two great scorers from the deep 1996 draft respect each other, and both should put on a show.

X-factor: J.R. Smith. Had fallen out of favor with coach George Karl by the end of last year's playoffs, but he has become a force off the Nuggets' bench now. Averaged 15.7 points after the All-Star break and spreads the defense with his three-point shooting.

Prediction: Lakers in 6.


P	Lakers	HT	PPG
F	Vladimir Radmanovic	6-10	8.4
F	Lamar Odom	6-10	14.2
C	Pau Gasol	7-0	18.9
G	Derek Fisher	6-1	11.7
G	Kobe Bryant	6-6	28.3


P	Nuggets	HT	PPG
F	Carmelo Anthony	6-8	25.7
F	Kenyon Martin	6-9	12.4
C	Marcus Camby	6-11	9.1
G	Allen Iverson	6-0	26.4
G	Anthony Carter	6-2	7.8


Schedule
Best-of-seven series.
Date	Site	Time	TV
Sunday	L.A.	Noon.	ABC
Wed.	L.A.	7:30 p.m.	TNT
April 26	Denver	2:30 p.m.	TNT
April 28	Denver	7:30 p.m.	TNT
*April 30	L.A.	TBA	TBD
*May 2	Denver	TBA	TBD
*May 4	L.A.	TBA	TND
*if necessary.