DENVER, May 26 (UPI) -- Denver, handicapped by Carmelo Anthony's injury and illness, relied on their role players Monday to extract a 120-101 win from the LA Lakers.
While Anthony, hobbling on a bad ankle and suffering from a stomach virus, managed just 15 points on 3-for-16 shooting, Chauncey Billups and J.R. Smith produced 24 points apiece to even the best-of-seven Western Conference final series going into Game 5 Wednesday in Los Angeles.