Lakers 105, Nuggets 103

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant draws a foul from Denver forward Kenyon Martin in the fourth quarter Tuesday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Kobe Bryant gets a hug from fan Norm Pattiz after the Lakers defeated Denver in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday night at Staples Center.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Fans leave Staples Center following the Game 1 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant walks off the Staples Center court after scoring 18 of his 40 points against the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.   (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers point guard Derek Fisher celebrates with fans after making a three-pointer in the fourth quarter Tuesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Pau Gasol embraces guard Kobe Bryant late in the fourth quarter as Denver forward Carmelo Anthony heads to the bench during a timeout Tuesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Jack Nicholson, courtside with his daughter for Game 1 on Tuesday night at Staples Center, has something to say to Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic cheers from the bench with teammates in the second half Tuesday night.   (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin slams the ball past Lakers center DJ Mbenga in the second half Tuesday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers center Pau Gasol is fouled by Nuggets center Nene late in the fourth quarter Tuesday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is stripped of the ball by Nuggets guard Anthony Carter as center Chris Andersen moves in to help in the fourth quarter Tuesday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson disputes a call by a referee in the fourth quarter Tuesday night during Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.   (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Denver forward Carmelo Anthony reacts after making a three-pointer while scoring a team-high 39 points on Tuesday night in Game 1.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers center Andrew Bynum blocks the shot of Denver center Nene as he’s double-teamed by forward Lamar Odom on Tuesday night in Game 1.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Nuggets center Chris Andersen juggles the ball while driving to the basket against the Lakers on Tuesday night in Game 1.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Lamar Odom reacts after teammate Sasha Vujacic is called for a foul in the fourth quarter Tuesday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Pau Gasol takes a charging foul on Denver forward Carmelo Anthony in the fourth quarter Tuesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Pau Gasol reacts after drawing a charge from Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony on Tuesday night in Game 1.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Lamar Odom fights for a rebound with Denver center Chris Andersen in the fourth quarter Tuesday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant battles Denver forward Carmelo Anthony for a rebound in Game 1 on Tuesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Lamar Odom gets tangled with Nuggets center Chris Andersen as Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Denver forward Kenyon Martin battle for position in the fourth quarter Tuesday night.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony drives between Lakers forward Trevor Ariza and center Andrew Bynum on Tuesday night in Game 1.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant dunks in front of Denver’s Carmelo Anthony and Anthony Carter in the first half Tuesday night.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers center Pau Gasol and Denver center Nene work for rebounding position in Game 1 on Tuesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers point guard Jordan Farmar drives past Denver’s Linas Kleiza and Chris Andersen in the first half of Game 1 Tuesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers point guard Derek Fisher shoots a three-pointer over Kenyon Martin in the second quarter Tuesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A member of the USC Alumni Band plays during a break in the action Tuesday night at Staples Center during Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Denver center Nene tries to power his way past Lakers forward Lamar Odom and center Andrew Bynum in the first half Tuesday night.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Josh Powell blocks the shot of Denver forward Kenyon Martin while jumping above guard Derek Fisher in the first half Tuesday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Josh Powell lands on the head of guard Derek Fisher after blocking a shot by Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin in the second quarter Tuesday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Josh Powell falls to the court after colliding with teammate Derek Fisher following a block on a shot by Denver’s Kenyon Martin.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Trevor Ariza is helped by teammates after crashing to the court in front of the bench on Tuesday night in Game 1.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers center Andrew Bynum reaches back to try to get an offensive rebound between Denver’s Anthony Carter and Nene in the first half Tuesday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Denver center Chris Andersen blocks the shot of Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic in Game 1 on Tuesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers center Andrew Bynum and Nuggets center Chris Andersen battle for a rebound in the first half Tuesday night.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Denver guard J.R. Smith tries to get a pass around Lakers point guard Jordan Farmar as he loses his balance on a drive Tuesday night in Game 1.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Larry David and Spike Lee relax before Game 1 of the Western Conference finals Tuesday night at Staples Center.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Nuggets reserve center Chris Andersen has his ‘do all set before warmups Tuesday night at Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)