Lakers guard Kobe Bryant scored 41 points in the team's 103-97 road win over the Nuggets on Saturday night.

The victory gives Los Angeles a 2-1 series lead, and afterward Bryant stressed the importance of the outcome.

"I rank this right up there with some of the biggest road wins we've had since I've been a Laker," Bryant told the Orange County Register, "because in the past we always had guys that had a lot of experience: Robert Horry, Rick Fox, Ron Harper ? they'd all been through this stuff before.

"For our guys, this is brand new. Last year we weren't tested like this. So this means a lot."

The victory shifts home court advantage back to the Lakers.