NBA: Denver 113, Los Angeles Lakers 96

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DENVER, May 11 (UPI) -- Kenneth Faried ignited a nine-point run to open the second half Thursday, sending Denver to a 113-96 win that forced a Game 7 with the Los Angeles Lakers.

After taking a 3-1 lead in the opening-round playoff series, the Lakers have been forced to the limit against the Nuggets in what will be the first seventh game of the 2012 NBA post-season.

That game will be played Saturday in Los Angeles, where Denver won the fifth game of the series Tuesday.

Denver took a nine-point lead at halftime and doubled it during the first 3 minutes of the third quarter. Faried produced the first five points of the 9-0 surge and Ty Lawson finished the run with a jumper that gave the Nuggets a 63-45 advantage. The Denver lead eventually grew to 28 points.

Los Angeles shot just 41 percent for the game to Denver's 51 percent.

Lawson made 13-of-18 shots from the field and scored 32 points to lead the Nuggets. Corey Brewer had 18 and Faried added 15.

Los Angeles' Kobe Bryant was questionable prior to the game due to stomach problems, but played 38 minutes and scored 31 points.

Denver's victory came after team officials announced forward Chris Andersen had been excused indefinitely from all club-related activities due to an investigation by the local sheriff's department.

The Denver Post reported the investigation involves alleged Internet crimes against children. The newspaper said Andersen's home was searched early Thursday, but that Andersen had not been arrested or charged with a crime.

Anderson has not appeared in a game since March 15.