If the competitors don't trust the truth in the final score, why should we?

Did the Nuggets lose to the Los Angeles Lakers 103-94, or were they robbed by referees who gave favorable calls to a marquee franchise that pumps up television ratings?

Does the league want to see superstar Kobe Bryant in the NBA Finals rather than the tattooed bad boys of Denver?

In an accusation that goes straight to the heart of the sport's integrity, one member of the Nuggets shook his head in disgust after the game, and could not believe how cheap it was for Los Angeles to buy a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference finals.

"The Lakers paid $50,000 to win that game. They got their money's worth," said a Denver player, not wanting to be identified for fear of retribution from the league.

Was the outcome rigged? I refuse to believe it was.

The 16 field-goal attempts the Nuggets missed during the fourth quarter had much more to do with the defeat than any of the 30 personal fouls called against Denver by the referees.

Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson and the Lakers organization were fined $50,000 by the NBA for complaining about the calls in Game 4, won decisively by the upstart Nuggets .

Asked prior to Game 5 if he was playing mind games and planting seeds, Jackson laughed and said: "I'm a gardener. I like planting seeds ? constantly."

That's so funny the league office should strongly consider fining Jackson again, for making light of how coaches can influence the calls made by referees.

Conspiracy theories are generally for losers. But the Lakers have been to the NBA Finals 29 more times than the Nuggets , long a laughingstock in this league.

Was the final score of Game 5 also a joke?

Denver didn't find it amusing.

"I thought they got the benefit of the whistle," Denver coach George Karl said of the Lakers, suggesting the defense played by Los Angeles that held the Nuggets to 38.6 percent shooting from the floor was an illusion enhanced by how the refs influenced the game.

While not wanting to get in a war of words with the great and powerful Zen Master of Los Angeles or be docked pay for complaining, Karl did say, "Every player in my locker room is frustrated, from guards to big guys."

Nene fouled out in fewer than 26 minutes on the court, and Karl insisted at least three of the Denver center's six fouls did not exist.

If that's not questioning the integrity of the game, I don't know what is.

After the biggest playoff game in Denver pro Basketball history ended in a disheartening loss, the angry whisper was that Jackson yanked the NBA with his trademark manipulative tactics, and the refs jumped like puppets on a string.

If even one member of the Nuggets traveling party thinks his team didn't get a fair whistle, then you have to wonder if the league still has a problem it wished went away when referee Tim Donaghy resigned in 2007 after an FBI investigation into allegations he wagered on games.

There's no denying that for the first time in their amazing playoff run, the Nuggets tightened up after being tied 76-76 with the Lakers through three quarters. Denver choked on a big opportunity.

Asked to comment on the referees, Nuggets veteran Kenyon Martin said he wouldn't be able to stop until his words resulted in a fine if he got started.

"Don't let the league take your money," Denver teammate Chauncey Billups told Martin.

When the reeling Lakers absolutely, positively had to win, they did. Bryant scored 22 points. The Nuggets walked away with heads bowed. These are the NBA playoffs.

"Where amazing happens," said Billups, making a joke at the expense of the league's motto.

The Nuggets , however, definitely don't think it's funny.

Mark Kiszla: 303-954-1053 or mkiszla@denverpost.com