Denver 92, L.A. Lakers 79 (F)

LAS VEGAS, July 19 – Bobby Jones and Keith Langford scored 18 points and 17 points, respectively on Saturday, as the Denver Nuggets downed the Los Angeles Lakers 92-79 at the 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA Sports.

The game was the finale for both teams at the summer classic. The Nuggets head back to the Rockies with a 4-1 record, while the Lakers finish their schedule with a record of 2-4.

Denver never trailed in the contest, besting the Lakers in virtually every category, including field goal percentage -- 49.2 to L.A.’s 40.0 -- and rebounds -- 40-31. Elton Brown also contributed solid minutes for Denver, finishing with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Mike Hall added another 10.

The Nuggets capitalized on an 11-2 run to open the game jumping out to a 24-15 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Langford exploded for 16 points in the first half on 6-of-6 shooting from the floor and 3-of-3 shooting from 3-point range, including back-to-back three’s coming off of a Hall steal with 2:20 to play in the half. At the end of two, the Nuggets held a commanding 53-36 lead.

The Lakers battled back in the third, just edging the Nuggets by just one point, 18-17, in the period. Brown scored eight in the quarter, helping his Nuggets to a 70-54 lead after three.

Los Angeles cut the lead to 10 with just under four minutes to play before Hall knocked down a long-range three and Brown put away a behind-the-back lay-up to put the Nuggets back ahead by 15, 86-71, with three minutes to play.