Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets in game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday night, 105-103.

“A good one, an important one,” Bryant commented on the win. “Like I told the guys in a timeout, this is a different series. We felt kind of down on ourselves with a slow start. … I told them to forget about that, this is a different series.”

Bryant led the game in scoring with 40 points, getting the better of his former Olympic teammate Carmelo Anthony, who finished with 39 points.

“It was a lot of fun, he’s a bull down there,” Bryant said. “I am a little out of my weight class, but I’ll give it my best shot.”

It was an exciting game 1 and hopefully the rest of the series is as entertaining and competitive.

Game 2 will be on Thursday in Los Angeles.