Not even Allen Iverson and Chauncey Billups in the same backcourt would have helped the Denver Nuggets on Friday.
The Nuggets rolled into Staples Center on a hot streak, but they were simply rolled over by the Lakers, who led by 27 in the second quarter on the way to their latest breezy victory, 104-90.
It looked as if the Nuggets were the ones playing the second night of a back-to-back situation, but, no, that was the Lakers bounding out to a 67-47 halftime lead less than 24 hours after winning in Phoenix.
Kobe Bryant rebounded from a poor night against the Suns with 29 points on 12-for-18 shooting against Denver. Andrew Bynum picked up his third double-double of the season -- 13 points and 13 rebounds -- after facing foul trouble the night before in Phoenix.
It's almost getting redundant to say that Lakers-Nuggets games end a particular way. The Lakers have now won nine in a row against Denver, with or without Iverson, including a first-round sweep in last season's playoffs.
It's also getting repetitive to hang victories on the shoulders of their defense, but the Lakers are yielding an average of 91.3 points a game, perhaps on the way to their most notable defensive season since the inception of the shot clock in 1954.
The Lakers gave up only 92.3 points a game in 1999-2000, the franchise's lowest defensive average in the shot-clock era.
"I don't want to bore our customers, but I enjoy it," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. "I really do."
If fan appreciation mirrors the number of victories, the Lakers probably have some satisfied followers.
The Nuggets came into Friday averaging 99.1 points a game. Like many Lakers opponents, they left without hitting that mark.
"I think customers want to see blowouts and in the big games, it'll be a little bit tougher, it'll be closer and then they'll enjoy it more," Bynum said.
Ahead of time, Jackson sounded as if the Nuggets might actually be a test, saying, "This team's on a run."
He couldn't be blamed. Denver had won seven of eight before Friday, seemingly inspired by the acquisition of Billups in the Iverson trade.
Billups played well enough Friday -- 15 points and nine assists -- but didn't get much help from teammates against a Lakers defense that was again an irritant.
Case in point: Carmelo Anthony had 10 points on a morbid five-for-19 shooting.
