Nuggets cruise to an easy road win over Lakers

Published 4:00 am Saturday, February 6, 2010

LOS ANGELES — The Lakers and Nuggets won’t know for another few months who’s got the other’s number. For now, though, give Denver the edge.

Chauncey Billups scored a career-high 39 points, including nine three-pointers, and the Nuggets won 126-113 Friday night, ending the Lakers’ eight-game home winning streak and improving to 2-0 against them.

Billups was 12 of 20 from the floor, including nine of 13 from three-point range, and made six of eight free throws to go with eight assists for the Nuggets, who played without Carmelo Anthony for the seventh straight game because of a sprained left ankle.

“You’ve always got to be confident. There’s a lot of people that can say it, but until you can do it, you’ve got to get that confidence from the right place,” Billups said. “They’re the world champs. But we feel that we can compete with them.”

Billups scored 21 points in the third quarter alone, the most against the Lakers in one period since Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia 76ers had 23 in a game in February 1966. Billups’ nine three-pointers were the second-most ever against the Lakers.

“He was shooting considerably beyond the line,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “I’m just glad that didn’t happen in a playoff game.”

Kobe Bryant scored 33 points on his sprained left ankle, but the first-place Lakers proved no match for the Western Conference’s No. 2 team.

Also on Friday:

Suns 114

Kings 102

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Steve Nash had 23 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds to help Phoenix complete a perfect four-game road trip with a victory over struggling Sacramento.

Celtics 96

Nets 87

BOSTON — Eddie House scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter, helping Boston overcome a slow start and pull away from New Jersey.

Wizards 92

Magic 91

ORLANDO, Fla. — Caron Butler made a 19-foot jumper with 0.5 seconds remaining, capping Washington’s comeback from a 21-point deficit.

Pacers 107

Pistons 83

INDIANAPOLIS — Danny Granger scored 25 points and Brandon Rush added 16 to help Indiana to one of its most lopsided wins over Detroit.

Bucks 114

Knicks 107

NEW YORK — Brandon Jennings scored 19 of his 22 points in the second half, and reserve Ersan Ilyasova added a career-high 25 for Milwaukee.

Hawks 91

Bulls 81

ATLANTA — Josh Smith posted his second career triple-double and Atlanta recovered in the fourth quarter to beat Chicago.

76ers 101

Hornets 94

NEW ORLEANS — Thaddeus Young made his first seven shots and finished with 19 points to lead Philadelphia over New Orleans.

Rockets 101

Grizzlies 83

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Aaron Brooks had 19 points and eight rebounds and Houston handed Memphis its fourth loss in five games.

Timberwolves 117

Mavericks 108

DALLAS — Jonny Flynn scored 19 points and Minnesota finished the game on a 13-2 run to snap a 13-game losing streak against Dallas.