DENVER (AP) A chorus of boos followed Kobe Bryant onto the court Wednesday night against the Denver Nuggets, his first game in Colorado since being accused of sexual assault at a resort in the Rockies last summer.

The Los Angeles Lakers' star received mixed reaction from NBA fans early in the season, but the Denver crowd was clearly against him. He was booed loudly during introductions and every time he touched the ball, and one fan yelled out ``Go back to the courthouse!'' in the early going.

Bryant did get some cheers _ after missing his first shot off the opening tip and when he was called for an offensive foul a few minutes later. He didn't score until hitting two free throws while being booed midway through the first quarter.

``I figure if he's up for charges, he shouldn't be playing until he's cleared,'' fan Debbie Hoefker said before the game. ``You shouldn't be paid to be working if you are under that kind of suspicion.''

Bryant had been back to Colorado five times since the accusation in June, but those trips were for pretrial hearings in Eagle, about 130 miles west of Denver.

This time he was in town to play the Nuggets, a game that generated plenty of buzz.

``This game is a media event more than it is anything else,'' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. ``It is a sold-out ticket and people are anxious to see what's going to happen on the court. So that's an interesting part of it.''

Bryant is charged with attacking a 19-year-old employee at a resort west of Vail. He said the sex was consensual. If convicted, he faces four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation.

Bryant was booed Tuesday night against Minnesota, and had said he wouldn't be surprised if he heard more of it in Denver.

``My expectations are always the same, just expect the worst,'' Bryant said Tuesday.

Despite the reaction, there were at least a few pro-Bryant fans in the crowd.

``I think he's got to come out and have a great game. That's his best way for him to show he's over this and still focused on basketball,'' Matt Bouilly said.

Anticipation for the game neared the level for the matchup Dec. 2 between the Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers, the second meeting between rookie sensations LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.

For this one, fans lined up early to get tickets for the expected sellout. There also were requests for media credentials came from across the country and Denver's sports radio was filled with Kobe talk.

``I know everybody will want to come out to the game and see how Kobe's going to do tonight,'' Anthony said. ``It should be interesting.''

The Nuggets hope Bryant doesn't respond as well as he did after his last trip to Colorado.

After a hearing in Eagle during the day Dec. 19, Bryant rushed back to Los Angeles for a home game that night against the Nuggets. He didn't arrive until late in the first quarter, but came off the bench to loud cheers from the home fans.

Bryant left to a roar after finishing with 13 points and hitting the game-winning shot at the buzzer in the Lakers' 101-99 win.

``We know firsthand how he can come out and it won't be a distraction for him,'' Nuggets forward Ryan Bowen said. ``How he can come out and win a game for them on the same day he had to do the court thing. So we know that it's not that big of a distraction.''

Bryant's next hearing in Eagle is scheduled for Jan. 23.