Lakers 103 Nuggets 94

Power forwards Pau Gasol of the Lakers and Kenyon Martin of the Nuggets go after a rebound in the first half of Game 5 on Wednesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Lamar Odom throws down a dunk as Denver’s Chris Andersen gets out of the way in Game 5 on Wednesday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Lamar Odom celebates after scoring against Denver center Chris Andersen in the first half Wednesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Trevor Ariza draws a charging foul on Denver point guard Chauncey Billups in the first quarter Wednesday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forwards Lamar Odom (7) and Luke Walton (4) react to a play in Game 5 on Wednesday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers center Andrew Bynum blocks the shot of Denver guard Dahntay Jones, although Bynum was called for a foul on the play.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers center Andrew Bynum makes sure that Denver guard Dahntay Jones will not get off the shot after fouling him on a driving layup in the first quarter Wednesday night.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers power forward Pau Gasol signals for a traveling call against a Denver player in Game 5 on Wednesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Lamar Odom avoids the block attempt by Denver center Chris Andersen for a layup in the first half Wednesday night.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Luke Walton knocks the ball away from Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony in Game 5 on Wednesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers power forward Pau Gasol is fouled by Denver’s Nene (not pictured) as Chris Andersen helps on defense in the first half of Game 5 on Wednesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Nuggets center Chris Andersen blocks a shot by Lakers forward Lamar Odom in the first half Wednesday night.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Fans celebrate after Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic made a three-pointer with three seconds left before halftime Wednesday night to tie the score against Denver.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic reacts after making a three-pointer just before halftime that helped tie the score, 56-56, against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Trevor Ariza falls into the courtside seats while chasing a loose ball in Game 5 on Wednesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is fouled by Nuggets guard J.R. Smith in the fourth quarter Wednesday night.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers power forward Pau Gasol goes above Nuggets center Chris Andersen in a battle for a rebound Wednesday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

While Denver forward Carmelo Anthony catches his breath, Jack Nicholson applauds the effort of the Lakers during Game 5 on Wednesday night.   (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant tries to tie up Nuggets center Chris Andersen during a fight for a loose ball in Game 5 on Wednesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Lamar Odom comes up with the ball in a scramble for control with Denver guard J.R. Smith (1) and forward Linas Kleiza on Wednesday night.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant loses control of the ball as he drives to the basket Wednesday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Luke Walton blocks the shot of Denver forward Carmelo Anthony in Game 5 on Wednesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson joins guard Kobe Bryant in a discussion with referee Monty McCutchen on Wednesday night.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Shannon Brown throws down a breakaway dunk before Chris Andersen can block the shot Wednesday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Shannon Brown celebrates after slamming the ball past Nuggets center Chris Andersen in the second half Wednesday night.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers point guard Derek Fisher fouls Denver guard Dahntay Jones while going for a steal in Game 5 on Wednesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Nuggets guard J.R. Smith reacts after a teammate was called for a foul in Game 5 Wednesday night.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Pau Gasol tries to separate teammate Shannon Brown and Nuggets center Chris Andersen as they exchange words in Game 5 on Wednesday night. Brown and Andersen each received a technical.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Trevor Ariza contorts his body to avoid contact with Denver center Nene on a driving layup in the second half Wednesday night.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers center Andrew Bynum is congratulated by teammates Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant after a strong move to the basket in the second half Wednesday night.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony commits a hard foul against Lakers guard Kobe Bryant on a breakaway layup Wednesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant loses control of the ball after taking a hard foul from Denver forward Carmelo Anthony in Game 5 on Wednesday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant confers with teammate Shannon Brown in the fourth quarter Wednesday night.   (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers power forward Pau Gasol, who finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots, puts away a dunk in the fourth quarter on Wednesday night.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Guards Jordan Farmar and Derek Fisher and reserve center DJ Mbenga celebrate a play from the bench in the fourth quarter Wednesday night.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant yells at a referee after being called for a foul in Game 5 on Wednesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Lamar Odom is embraced by teammate Pau Gasol after scoring a basket late in Game 5 on Wednesday night.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant takes a moment to gather himself after he was fouled in the fourth quarter Wednesday night.   (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)