(My Sportsbook) - The top dog in the NBA's Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers, welcome the red-hot Denver Nuggets to Staples Center on Friday.

The Lakers improved to a gaudy 9-1 on Thursday when Kobe Bryant scored 24 points and Lamar Odom filled the stat sheet with 13 points and nine rebounds off the bench, as Los Angeles rolled past Phoenix, 105-92 in the Valley of the Sun.

Vladimir Radmanovic contributed 15 points and Andrew Bynum posted 10 points and seven boards for the Lakers, who have won two straight after their only loss of the season to Detroit.

Jordan Farmar donated 11 points off the bench and Trevor Ariza added 10 in the win.

The Nuggets have been almost as good as the Lakers since acquiring point guard Chauncey Billups in the blockbuster trade that sent Allen Iverson to Detroit.

Billups scored 22 points, doled out six assists and hauled in five rebounds to lead Denver in a 91-81 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.

Carmelo Anthony poured in 21 points, grabbed nine boards and dished out seven helpers for the Nuggets, who have won four straight and seven of eight with Billups in the lineup. Kenyon Martin had 18 points and Nene 16 in the win.

The Lakers have won four straight regular season games and beat the Nuggets, 104-97, in Denver earlier this season. Los Angles also swept the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs last season.