With their rousing victory over the Knicks yesterday, the Lakers got themselves back to a 0.500 record. The Nuggets, at 15-14, are trying not to slip back down to that level. Both teams had to fly from L.A. to Denver last night, the Nugs having lost the late Christmas game at Staples to the Clippers, so we might not see the highest quality play this evening. But it's a tasty matchup between talent-rich squads desperate to put the disappointing first third of the regular season behind them.

The Nuggets have faced one of the most difficult slates in the league so far. They're widely perceived to be a great disappointment (though not as great a one as the Lakers). When they visited the purple and gold on November 30, they got blasted. But they have won six in a row at home, including W's over the Spurs and Grizzlies.

The Lakers have won the last three meetings between these teams.