The Lakers can see that the end is near, that they are on the verge of closing out a playoff series.

They will practice today and prepare for Game 4 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets on Monday night at the Pepsi Center.

The Lakers lead the best-of-seven series, 3-0.

The Lakers and Nuggets are fully aware that no team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series.

The Lakers want to make sure the Nuggets don't become the first team.

``I think the concept is that the elimination game is the toughest game to win in a playoff situation,'' Derek Fisher said. ``Nobody is really just going to quit. It's hard to put a team out for a season and eliminate them. It's a tougher proposition as opposed to kind of just winning one game at a time up until that point. So, it'll be another growth opportunity for us.''

-- Broderick Turner
-- bturner@PE.com

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