Lakers Vs. Nuggets Final Score: Los Angeles Closes Out Denver 96-87

Pau Gasol was huge and Metta World Peace returned for the Los Angeles Lakers as they advance to the second round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs with a 96-87 Game 7 win over the Denver Nuggets.

A big fourth quarter allowed the Lakers to pull away for the victory thanks to Gasol who finished with 23 points, 17 rebounds, six assists and four blocks. Steve Blake scored 19 points off the bench while Kobe Bryant finished with 17 points and eight assists. Andrew Bynum added 16 points, 18 rebounds and six blocks despite shooting 4 of 15 from the field. Metta World Peace returned from a seven game suspension to score 15 points in the victory.

Ty Lawson and Al Harrington led Denver with 24 points each. Arron Afflalo added 15 points.

For more on this game Lakers fans should visit Silver Screen And Roll and Nuggets fans should check out Denver Stiffs. For more news and notes from the NBA Playoffs head over to SB Nation's NBA Basketball page.

Lakers Vs. Nuggets Game 7: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The Oklahoma City Thunder have enjoyed the down time as they await their next opponent, and all eyes wil be on tonight’s match-up between the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers in game seven of the opening round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs for both teams.

The Thunder had some rest at the perfect time given recent injuries to James Harden and Kendrick Perkins. Meanwhile, the Nuggets have pushed the favored Lakers to the edge, and there’s a lot of drama in Tinseltown — Mike Brown is on the hot seat, Metta World Peace is returning from suspension and everyone will watch to see if Kobe Bryant can elevate his game and carry the Lakers into the second round.

Here’s the info you’ll need to catch tonight’s game

Denver Nuggets @ Los Angeles Lakers:
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles
When: 9:30 CT
TV: TNT

For more on this game Lakers fans should visit Silver Screen And Roll and Nuggets fans should check out Denver Stiffs. For more news and notes from the NBA Playoffs head over to SB Nation's NBA Basketball page.

Lakers Vs. Nuggets Final Score: Kobe Bryant Helps L.A. Triumph In Denver

As the Oklahoma City Thunder kick back and enjoy an extra day or two of rest after taking out the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks in four straight games, they also await the winner of the current series between the Denver Nugget and Los Angeles Lakers. While the Lakers were already favored to win, the Nuggets were down 2-1 heading into Sunday night's game and could have evened the series. The Lakers seem ready to move on, however, and took control of the series with a 92-88 win in game four.

The Lakers took over in the second half last night after being down six at halftime. It's an impressive road win for a team that is only 15-18 away from the Forum on the season. Kobe Bryant scored 22 points to lead LA. He also added 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Pau Gasol had 13 points and Andrew Bynum scored 19.

The Lakers are now up 3-1 and hold an extreme advantage in the series. If the Thunder and Lakers match up again soon, it will be very interesting when Metta World Peace returns from his suspension after hitting James Harden with his elbow in the head.

For more on this game Lakers fans should visit Silver Screen And Roll and Nuggets fans should check out Denver Stiffs. For more news and notes from the NBA Playoffs head over to SB Nation's NBA Basketball page.

Lakers Vs. Nuggets Final Score: L.A. Wins 92-88, Goes Up 3 Games To 1

The Los Angeles Lakers moved one step closer to moving onto the Western Conference semifinals as they defeated the Denver Nuggets 92-88. The game was tight through out but it was the Lakers who made the shots in the second half.

Lakers Vs. Nuggets Time, TV, Radio Info And More

The Los Angeles Lakers won the first two games of its first-round series with Denver before the Nuggets took Game 3 at the Pepsi Center. In Game 3 Denver rode a big first half to a 24-point lead at the break and were able to keep the Lakers at arms length the rest of the way.

Following that game Lakers center Andrew Bynum vowed to be ready for Game 4 after reportedly arriving late for Game 3 and being held scoreless in the first half. Bynum bounced back in the second have finishing with 18 points and 12 rebounds but he and Pau Gasol were out rebounded by Denver's duo of Kenneth Faried and JaVale McGee.

Game Date/Time: Sunday, May 6, 8:30 p.m. CT

Location: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado

Series: Lakers lead 2-1

TV: TNT

For more on this game Lakers fans should visit Silver Screen And Roll and Nuggets fans should check out Denver Stiffs. For more news and notes from the NBA Playoffs head over to SB Nation's NBA Basketball page.

Oklahoma City Thunder Playing With 'Certain Look In Their Eye'

Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle could tell just by looking at the Oklahoma City Thunder's body language that the young team is ready to seize the moment and opportunity to rise to NBA prominence.

The Mavericks were the defending NBA champions before the Thunder completed a four-game sweep of them in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs on Saturday night. Carlisle said the Mavericks tried five or six coverage ideas against the Thunder's third best player James Harden, who torched Dallas for 29 points in the closeout victory.

There was little that could be done.

"They have a certain look in their eye," Carlisle said of Oklahoma City. "Not just that they belong, but that this could be their time."

Read more about the Thunder at Welcome To Loud City. For more news on the Mavericks, check out Mavs Moneyball. Stay updated on any additional news and notes around the league at the SB Nation NBA hub page.

Jason Kidd To Retire? Mavericks Point Guard Imposes Free Agency Limitations

Jason Kidd has already enjoyed a likely Hall of Fame career at the highest level basketball can afford him. He's won an NBA title. He's a 10-time All Star. He's achieved both greatness and longevity, either one of those being something most NBA players would cherish most. But now at the age of 39, the Dallas Mavericks point guard might be on the way of the league. In short, Kidd is reportedly set to retire and walk away if he does not get the contract demands that he desires heading into free agency this summer.

Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated has the official word from a source on Kidd's future:

Hearing Jason Kidd isn't interested in playing for a vets minimum or small exception. If he doesn't get a mid-level type offer, he'll quit.

— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) May 3, 2012

That could be a tall order for an aging point guard who cannot shoot well. Even the dynamic aspects of his game have tapered off enough where it will be interesting to see who takes a flier on him. Is there enough left in the tank? That's for general managers to decide.

This last season, Kidd averaged 6.2 points, 5.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds in almost 30 minutes per game as the Mavs starting point guard. In the playoffs, those numbers jumped all over but his value was felt in the team's Game Four loss to the Thunder when he shot 4 of 8 beyond the arc and finished with 16 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds. In short, he's still a playmaker.

It will be interesting to see where he goes this off-season and what team makes room for him. If he walks away, it will be as one of the greatest point guards of a generation and the Hall of Fame will likely welcome him whenever he decides he's ready.

Read more about the Thunder at Welcome To Loud City. For more on the Mavericks, check out Mavs Moneyball.

Mark Cuban Promises Mavericks 'Will Be Back', Whatever That Means

The Dallas Mavericks were supposed to go a lot farther than the first round of the 2012 NBA playoffs. Even without analyzing match-ups, the defending champions are supposed to do just that -- defend. Instead, Dirk Nowitzki's veteran team couldn't catch a break in the first two games of the series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and then they were beaten on all levels in the final two to find themselves shaking their heads after being swept.

After the game, Mavericks iconic owner Mark Cuban took to Twitter to express his hopes next season despite the early exit.

THat obviously was no fun, but we will be back Mavs fans. No doubt about it #GoMavs

— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) May 6, 2012

The team is definitely going to be back next season. The NBA will still play in 2012-13 and as of right now, the Dallas Mavericks are still slated to be an official franchise. They have a lease with a stadium, players under contract and fans who will likely still turn out. Cuban is absolutely right to say it.

Whether they will be back in the playoffs or in the title game or other places is still yet to be determined. But Cuban is correct in his prediction that the Mavericks have not played their final game in franchise history.

Read more about the Thunder at Welcome To Loud City. For more on the Mavericks, check out Mavs Moneyball.

Kendrick Perkins Injury Update: Thunder Center Remains Day-To-Day

The Oklahoma City Thunder should have had a more difficult time closing out the defending NBA champs in last night's game four against the Dallas Mavericks. After all, they were without their physical center for most of the game, the veteran presence who helps hold things down in the middle defensively. Yet even without Kendrick Perkins' intensity, the team still won on the road at Dallas to sweep the opening series of the 2012 NBA playoffs.

For Perkins, he remains day to day with a strained right hip. There's no official word yet from anyone on the team. Given the amount of time they have to wait until their next opponent is official, it's a welcome respite to allow such injuries to heal a bit more. Having Perkins healthy for the long haul is essential, so the rest is a nice luxury for OKC at this point.

"We'll evaluate it tomorrow and see how he feels," OKC coach Scott Brooks said.

Perkins played only 8 minutes of last night's game before leaving in the first quarter.

Read more about the Thunder at Welcome To Loud City. For more on the Mavericks, check out Mavs Moneyball.

James Harden Takes Over For Thunder, Showcases Talent Against Mavericks

The Oklahoma City Thunder belong to Kevin Durant. Few NBA teams can attach themselves to a true superstar icon and the Thunder already have theirs. If room for two is allowed at times, then Russell Westbrook enters the picture. After all, the elite point guard is one of the game's best at the position. But the NBA playoffs are the perfect time for others to rise in the global spotlight available to them and James Harden is a secret no more, as he dominated the Mavericks in game four that completed the sweep against the defending NBA champions.

The Thunder won the fourth and final game of the opening series last night 103-97 on the strength of Harden's performance. He scored at will and took over in the fourth quarter. His final line? 29 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals.

After the game, Devin Kharpertian wrote, "With the Thunder down 13 in the fourth quarter, it wasn't Kevin Durant nor Russell Westbrook who pulled them back into this game. It was one 22-year-old sixth man named James Harden. Harden penetrated the lane, converted a ferocious dunk, hit tough layups in traffic, swung key assists to the superstars suddenly relegated to role duty and etched himself into playoff lore, leading a phenomenal comeback to confirm the sweep."

Harden is the best sixth man in the NBA at this point, no questions asked. However, superstardom could be his if he were able and willing to go to another team. Is it worth leaving? Would the team allow him? Those are questions to be asked and answered later. For now, the Thunder have a lot more ability than most people realized. The Mavericks just witnessed it firsthand.

Read more about the Thunder at Welcome To Loud City. For more on the Mavericks, check out Mavs Moneyball.

2012 NBA Playoffs: Dirk Nowitzki Talks Thunder Following Sweep

Fresh off of their Game 4 loss and sweep at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dirk Nowitzki talked about the series and the many weapons that coach Scott Brooks has at his disposal.

"If you look at the team we just lost to, it was [Russell] Westbrook in Game 1 and Game 2, it was Durant [in Game 3], and today they just throw it to Harden and he goes off," Nowitzki said.

With three players capable of exploding offensively in Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and James Harden off the bench, Oklahoma City has the make up of a team that can become elite according to Nowitzki.

"If you want to be an elite team in this league right now, you have to have at least two or three guys that can just go off at any time. I just thought they had more weapons than us. That was pretty clear."

For more on the Oklahoma City Thunder and their quest for an NBA title, head over to Welcome to Loud City. For more on the Dallas Mavericks, check out Mavs Moneyball. For more on the NBA Playoffs, check out the SB Nation NBA hubpage.

Thunder Vs. Mavericks Final Score: OKC Wins Game 4, 103-97

The Oklahoma City Thunder made a furious comeback on the road against the Dallas Mavericks in Game 4, eliminating the defending NBA champions out of contention for a repeat.

James Harden was the man for the Thunder, putting in 29 points, five rebounds and five assists while going 11-of-16 from the floor. Harden's brilliant performance included a drive to the basket and a layup at the end of the game that gave the Thunder control of the game.

After being tied at halftime, the Mavericks seemed as though there was still a bit of life left in them, blowing out the Thunder in the third quarter with a 34-21 advantage. Then everything turned around completely for the Mavs, and OKC pressed the gas.

The Thunder went off for 35 points in the fourth quarter, while holding the Mavs to just 16. OKC moves on to play the winner of the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals.

Read more about the Thunder at Welcome to Loud City.

Thunder Vs. Mavericks Halftime Update: Midway Through, Tied 47-47

So far, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks are playing a tight Game 4 with the two teams tied at 47 at halftime. The Thunder suffered a significant blow when they lost center Kendrick Perkins for the at least the rest of this game due to a hip injury.

Still, OKC has been competitive, outscoring the Mavericks in the first quarter 26-24 before Dallas returned the favor in the second quarter and outscored them 23-21.

Dirk Nowitzki is leading all scorers with 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting, while James Harden leads the way for the Thunder with 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting. Harden also has four rebounds and a pair of assists.

NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant is also in double figures with 10 points, but still a relatively quiet first half, all things considered. Russell Westbrook has chipped in eight points for the Thunder.

OKC and Dallas are shooting identical percentages from the field (44.4).

Read more about the Thunder at Welcome To Loud City. For more on the Mavericks, check out Mavs Moneyball.

Kendrick Perkins Injury Update: Thunder Center Out For Game, According To Reports

Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins will not return to the game against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday due to a hip injury suffered in the first quarter of Game 4. Perkins was making a move on offense toward the middle, in the paint area, when he came down awkwardly on his knee.

Perkins just limped back to the locker room

— Jeff Wade (@SkinWade) May 5, 2012

Kendrick Perkins has a right hip strain and will not return.

— Jeff Caplan (@ESPN_Caplan) May 6, 2012

The game is still in the first half, with Thunder and Mavericks going back in forth in lead changes. Perkins had two rebounds and two assists before leaving the game. Perkins has been injured in the playoffs before, having gone down when he was with the Celtics a couple of seasons ago.

Read more about the Thunder at Welcome To Loud City. For more on this series, follow our StoryStream.

Thunder Vs. Mavericks: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The Oklahoma City Thunder hope to put the final dagger in the heart of the Dallas Mavericks hopes of defending their NBA title. The Mavs hope to bounce back and show that championship experience means something. With tonight's game four in Dallas, the entire 2011-12 season is on the line for Dallas while the Thunder can earn some nice rest and relaxation before round two if they can pull off the sweep tonight.

The Mavericks were as close as could be in the first two games of the series and those games could have gone either way. Jason Terry missed two chances to tie in game two and Kevin Durant hit a last-second jumper in game one. However, the last game in Dallas was a total mismatch from beginning to end. The Mavs will hope to fare much better at home tonight.

Here's the info you'll need to check out tonight's action:

What: Mavericks vs. Thunder, Game 4
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
When: Saturday, May 5, 6:30 p.m. CT
Television Coverage: TNT

For more on the Oklahoma City Thunder and their quest for an NBA title, head over to Welcome to Loud City.

Jason Terry Broke Every Broom In His House To Prevent A Thunder Sweep Of The Mavericks

Some people will do whatever it takes to prevent their team from losing, but will your favorite player go to extremes to prevent their team from getting swept? Jason Terry is up for the cause.

With the Dallas Mavericks facing potential elimination on behalf of the Oklahoma City Thunder and a 3-0 deficit, the chants of "SWEEP" have been significant from the Thunder faithful. So how does Jason Terry feel about that?

"I broke every broom in the house. That's a little superstition, so I don't think there will be any sweeps going on." - Mavericks Guard Jason Terry

Well, alright then. I guess breaking all the brooms in your own house is a start, but can you break all the brooms in the arena, in the fan's hands, and even your mama's broom? Challenge accepted.

For more on the Oklahoma City Thunder and their quest for an NBA title, head over toWelcome to Loud City. For more on the Dallas Mavericks, check out Mavs Moneyball. For more on the NBA Playoffs, check out the SB Nation NBA hubpage.

Oklahoma City Thunder's NBA Title Window Is Wide Open For Years To Come

The Oklahoma City Thunder were among the favorites to win the 2012 NBA title heading into the year before the season started. As they have the defending champion Dallas Mavericks on the ropes down 3-0 heading into the fourth game tonight, they're making good on that promise. Unfortunately for the rest of the NBA, that dominance will not be changing anytime soon.

Perhaps no team has a window open for them for long-term dominance like the Thunder. OKC has built an incredible roster constructed with top-shelf developing talent, good chemistry and a perfect salary structure that has enabled the team to keep several stars over the next few years. In short, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and company will continue to grow together as they take over the NBA.

ESPN's Tom Haberstroh recently put together a look at the "windows" for the teams competing for the title this season. He saysno one comes close to what the Thunder can possibly do in the future.

Haberstroh writes, "Like the Bulls of yesteryear, the Thunder will be capped out before they know it. But contrary to the Bulls, the Thunder haven't come close to approaching their ceiling. No team can compete with the Thunder in terms of budding and championship-ready talent. For that reason, their window isn't just wide open, there isn't a window pane to shut at this point."

OKC truly has something special, and the Mavericks are watching it unfold first hand in the first round of the 2012 playoffs.

For more on the Oklahoma City Thunder and their quest for an NBA title, head over toWelcome to Loud City.

2012 NBA Playoffs, Mavericks Vs. Thunder Game 4: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder can finish off a four-game sweep of the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night.