Game 2 of the Nuggets-Lakers series brought a shirt drenching reversal of fortunes. The game was everything basketball fans scream for – at least, in the second half. In some ways, Game 2 was a reflection of Game 1: one team grabbed an easy lead in the first half before the other team claimed the victory in the last seconds. The big difference was the winners. On Thursday, an exhausted but victorious team stumbled to the Denver locker room while the Lakers fled the court.

The Nuggets won Game 2 with 106 points against the Lakers’ 103 points.

The Nuggets did more than prove themselves serious contenders in what looks to be a long series; they were able to end a 24-year long playoff loss – made up of 11 consecutive games – against the Lakers. And they did it in the last 29 seconds of the fourth quarter.

Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant’s Olympic teammate from last summer, proved the superstar of the evening. He made 34 points and 9 rebounds, becoming the first Denver player since 1976 to score over 30 points in 5 straight playoff games. But Melo did more than play great offense; he seemed the only Denver player that was able to limit Bryant, managing to prevent 4 buckets of 6 attempts when one-on-one. His teammates, however, gave Bryant 16 points on 8-for-14 shooting.

Nevertheless, the Nuggets performance was a brought about by an overall effort. Chauncey Billups added a heavy 27 points, while Linas Kleiza added 16. In fact, Kleiza’s 16 and 8 made up about 80% of Denver’s bench points. Nene had 6 points but managed 9 rebounds and 6 assists.

On the home team, Kobe Bryant had 32 points and made 10 of 10 free throws, while Trevor Ariza added 20 points in a playoff career-high and Pau Gasol made 17 with 17 rebounds.

The first half of the game saw both teams playing a sluggish game, though the Lakers managed a 14 point lead early in the second quarter. The Nuggets responded, making 16 of the quarter’s final 20 points, with Anthony making 14 in a row.

Then, moments before halftime, Billups made a play that stunned the Lakers and must have left his teammates cackling. He bounced the ball off of Kobe Bryant’s back, caught it, and used it to score on a layup.

Whether it was due to Anthony’s performance or BIllups’ jab, the second quarter seemed to turn the tide. The Nuggets went back into their locker room one point behind the Lakers, at 55-54.

Much of the second half of the game was spent head-to-head. Anthony made a jumper, tying the game at 56 as the building seemed to hold its collective breath. Trevor Ariza drove for the basket and managed 7 points; the Nuggets countered with the “Birdman” Chris Anderson, who interrupted Derek Fisher’s layup and managed to add his own 7 points.

The tension arrived in the last seconds of the fourth quarter. With less than a minute to go, the score was tied at 101 after Bryant’s jumper. Kenyon Martin scored on a layup with passes from Billups and Nene, giving the Nuggets the lead.

Bryant lost the ball on the Lakers’ next possession. Billups made three of four final free throws, missing one and ending the Nuggets’ 17 consecutive foul shouts. Nevertheless, it was enough for a 3 point lead that Bryant, with heavy guarding from Anthony, was unable to overcome. The ball ended up in Fisher’s hands, and he was unable to make a final 3 pointer from the right corner through Nene.

The game ended, and the Lakers lost.

The Nuggets recovered from their loss in Game 1 and staked out their victory in Game 2. No longer does the series seem a walk in the park for the Lakers, who had projected a future game with the Cleveland Cavaliers, pitting Bryant against budding superstar and NBA MVP LeBron James.

"It ain't just going to be us and Orlando lay down so [Bryant and James] can play in two weeks," the Nuggets’ Martin said. "That ain't going to happen. I'm going to make sure it don't. Y'all can go home and play NBA Live or something like that if y'all want to see that matchup. We're going to have something to say about it."