A few hours after Lakers coach Phil Jackson secured a two-year, $24 million contract extension, his team put together a performance that quelled the boos that have been echoing recently in the Staples Center. Kobe Bryant put up 24 points and seven assists in three quarters, and Sasha Vujacic contributed 22 points in the 127-99 blowout, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets' top scorer of the night with 23 points, was ejected in the fourth quarter for grabbing Vujacic's throat. Allen Iverson had 21 points and seven assists for Denver. The team shot just 4-18 from three-point range. The Lakers made nine of 22 three-pointers as the bench contributed six. (More NBA stories.)