Denver Nuggets Team Report - March 24

(Basketball News) - The surging Denver Nuggets host the reeling Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday at the Pepsi Center. Los Angeles has won two of three meetings between these teams this season, with both of its victoriescoming at home. The Lakers have lost two of their last three at Denver.

Denver has won four straight, 12 of 13 and 13 of its last 15 games to grab the eighth spot in the Western Conference. The Nuggets are 2 1/2 contests ahead of ninth place Minnesota and 4 1/2 games in front of the 10th-place Lakers.

The Nuggets continued their recent success on Tuesday with a 127-98 blowout of the Washington Wizards at the Pepsi Center. DerMarr Johnson scored 20 points and Eduardo Najera added 16 points in the victory for the Nuggets.

Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin added 14 points apiece for the Nuggets, who had six players score in double figures and set a season-high in points scored. Earl Boykins had 11 points and nine assists and Andre Miller had 10 points and seven assists. Miller had five steals and Denver had 15 as a team.

The Nuggets are 19-5 under George Karl and a season-best six games over .500. Karl dressed up in a throwback jersey for the contest.

Denver outscored the Wizards 58-44 in the paint. The Nuggets shot 56 percent from the field, compared to just 40 percent for the Wizards. Denver shot just 19-of-34 from the free throw line.

Center Marcus Camby left the game early due to a right ankle injury. Camby is listed as questionable for this evening’s contest.

Denver, which is in the midst of a seven-game homestand, is 23-10 in its friendly confines. The Nuggets have won 12 of 13 and 13 of their last 15 home contests.

Under the guidance of head coach George Karl, the Nuggets have compiled an impressive 19-5 record. Karl became the team’s general on January 27th when he replaced interim head coach Michael Cooper.

The Nuggets will host the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. It will be the third and final meeting of the season between the clubs. In the two previous contests, the Kings defeated Denver on November 14th and January 11th at ARCO Arena.