(My Sportsbook) - The Los Angeles Lakers play host to their Staples Center co-tenants, the Los Angeles Clippers, on Sunday.

The Lakers have long since wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference but are now chasing the Cleveland Cavaliers for the NBA's best record.

Kobe Bryant scored 20 points, including eight in the fourth quarter on Friday, as the Lakers moved closer to the NBA's top spot with a 93-81 victory over the Houston Rockets at Staples Center.

Bryant went 7-of-11 from the field, including a 4-for-6 mark from three-point range, for the Lakers, who returned home after a seven-game road trip that saw the team go 5-2. Pau Gasol added 23 points, 10 rebounds and three steals, while Derek Fisher had 15 points in the victory.

With the Cavaliers loss earlier Friday, the Lakers are only one game behind Cleveland for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. LA holds the tiebreaker over the Cavs by virtue of their two wins over the East leaders this season.

The Clippers, meanwhile, dropped their fourth straight game in Denver on Saturday when J.R. Smith scored a game-high 34 points, as the Nuggets notched their season-high sixth consecutive victory with a 120-104 win over the Clips.

Zach Randolph had 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers, who have lost seven of eight overall. DeAndre Jordan ended with 21 points and eight boards off the bench, while Baron Davis added 16 points, eight assists and five rebounds in the loss.

The Lakers have won seven straight over the Clippers and will be aiming to sweep the season series between the two clubs for a second consecutive year.