Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol, left, celebrates a basket as Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari looks away during the first half of a NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Friday, April 13, 2012.
Chris Carlson, Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Andrew Bynum had 30 points and eight rebounds, Matt Barnes added a season-high 24 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers clinched a playoff berth without Kobe Bryant or coach Mike Brown, holding off the Denver Nuggets 103-97 Friday night.
Pau Gasol had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacific Division-leading Lakers (38-22), who have won three of four without Bryant. The NBA scoring leader is resting his bruised shin.
Los Angeles also played without Brown, who left Staples Center shortly before tipoff for undisclosed personal reasons. Assistant coach John Kuester ran the team.
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