Kobe Bryant poured in 40 points to help the Lakers draw first blood with a 105-103 win over the Denver Nuggets.

The game boiled down to contest between the two sides' top stars Bryant and Denver's Carmelo Anthony, with Bryant and the Lakers coming out on top after the 11-time NBA All-Star iced six shots from the charity stripe in the final 30 seconds.

Anthony had 39 points to help Denver take a seven-point in the final quarter, but they were pegged back as Pau Gasol then Bryant went to the line to reel the Nuggets back in.

Gasol finished the game with a double-double of 13 points and 14 rebounds, while Derek Fisher also had 13 points.

Chauncey Billups, who drained a three-point late on to keep the game close, added 18 points and Kenyon Martin had 15 for the Nuggets.

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