DENVER, Colorado, Dec 5, 2007 - Kobe Bryant scored 12 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter to spark the Los Angeles Lakers past Denver 111-107 here Wednesday, spoiling a 51-point performance by Nuggets superstar Allen Iverson.

Despite hurting his left shoulder and spending much of the third quarter on the bench, Bryant kept Iverson to only two points in the final period while catching fire with six points in the last 1:14 to lift the Lakers to victory.

"Just take off and execute. That's what I was thinking," said Bryant.

The Lakers' guard's defense on Iverson was as vital as his production down the stretch. Iverson went 18-of-27 from the field but only 1-of-5 in the fourth quarter.

"We started paying a little more attention to him. We starting sitting on top of him a little more. He was dancing around, getting some good shots."

Bryant bruised his left shoulder two seconds before the end of the first quarter when he was accidentally tripped by Eduardo Najera. He went to the locker room and returned with an ice pack on the shoulder.

"It's a little achy but it's not something that's going to linger," Bryant said.

Iverson's point total was his largest since being traded to Denver from Philadelphia early last season. He scored 33 points in the first half and 16 more in the third quarter before facing two and three defenders after that.

Iverson's career high was 60 points against Orlando in 2005 while with the 76ers.

Carmelo Anthony added 26 points for the Nuggets, whose other players aside from Iverson managed only 30 points.