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Both teams ended long losing runs

The Nuggets won last four head to head games against the Lakers. Lawson was causing the biggest problems for the L.A. team with an average of 19,8 points scored and 9,8 rebounds.

The Los Angeles Lakers hope that 2014 will be injury free, or at least slightly better in that respect that 2013, which they ended on a six match losing run. The negative streak was ended Friday night when they managed to beat the last team of the West Conference at their Staples Center 110-99. D'Antonio's team were in the 30-12 lead after 12 minutes, being up to 21 point ahead later in the game. Still, the Jazzers never surrendered, and managed to get quite close minute and a half before the end (96-92), but that was as far as they could get. 

- You always hope for your team to set their pace and build confidence. I think this will help us in building confidence because the pace was right and we can feel good about it, but we also have to keep working around it. We can't take a step back. We were restless when on the negative streak and I hope this will calm us down a bit - coach D'Antoni said. His team's recorded a field goal percentage of 51,9%, including the 10/24 three pointers record. 

D'Antoni started the game against Utah with his 18th different starting line up, with the sixth different point guard being Kendall Marshall, who was, earlier this year, let go by both the Suns and the Wizards. That didn't stop him from doing brilliantly on Friday - he scored 20 points, had six rebounds and 15 assists.

- Everything happens for a reason. I'm happy for the opportunity that was given to me, and I want make best use of it with this team - Marshall said.

Having missed the previous two games due to respiratory problems, Pau Gasol recorded 25 points (9/23), with six rebounds and 4 blocks on New Year's Eve. He did well on Friday as well, having recorded 23 points (10/17), 17 rebounds, eight assists, and three blocks.

- Being able to breath normally make a huge difference I was in a nearly normal state. I managed to make good calls, play more, and be efficient. I'm very happy for managing to finish off attacks, and get the ball in the right positions. I got it where I was most efficient. It was a good game - said the Spaniard whose average is currently 15,3 points and 9,5 rebounds.

Lakers have a tough period ahead - they will have to do without the currently injured players at least until February. That puts a lot of strain on Gasol, Nick Young, Jodie Meeks, and the others who will have to keep the team as closest to the play off zone as possible, before the final the final sprint. Kobe Bryant should among others be ready for it.

- We're trying to keep our win-and-lose record close to 50% until Bryant comes back. We managed to do so the first time, but we've dug a small hole we need to get out of now. It seems a few others will return with Bryant. It would be nice to be left with some chances to salvage the season in the finish - coach D'Antoni said. His team are conceding 103,2 points, which is 3,9 points more than they score. 

The Denver Nuggets are in a similar situation despite not having as nearly as injury problems as the Lakers. Having lost eight consecutive games by 12,3 on average, Brian Shaw's men managed to beat the Grizzlies 101-108 home last Friday.

- This is the feeling we needed, especially given everything that's been happening lately. We now have something we can build things around. As much as losing eight consecutive games was easy, if we play right from now on, we can win eight consecutive games - coach Shaw said. His team were scoring 93,5 points during the negative streak, which is 8,6 points less than in the first 23 games of the season.

The Nuggests recorded a field goal percentage of 53,8%, after having only 41,5% in the previous 14 games, 11 of which they lost.

- This is a great, great feeling. We got the monkey off our back, and we can't afford to get it back on. I think we finally stopped playing nervously and indecisively. We just got out there and played basketball - Kenneth Faried added. He scored 16 points and added 6 rebounds.

Ty Lawson was the most efficient player for the Nuggets. He scored 18 points, added 4 rebounds and 12 assists. Mozgov did quite well too - he scored 16 points, with 7 rebounds, while Nate Robinson contributed with 15 points and seven assists.

Denver should not be struggling offensively against the Lakers either, but they will clearly have to get better in defense. They conceded 105,9 points on average in the last nine games, having conceded the average of 99,8 points previously. They can be optimistic because they won the last four head to head games with the Lakers. Lawson was causing them biggest problems with an average of 19,8 points scored and 9,8 rebounds.

True, the Nuggets are far from reliable, but considering what's going on in the home team lines, I think they'll leave the Staples Center happy tonight. The list of injured players at Lakers wasn't reduced, and last night, one of the sports networks published that Pau Gasol's replacement to Cleveland was a done deal, but that was deleted later on. Something is cooking for sure, and when they want to get rid of their best player by far, it's clear that the Lakers don't have any ambitions for this season. Even if the Spaniard plays, it's questionable how much he'll want to fight for a team that tried to replace him at least ten times in the last two years. Jodie Meeks, Nick Young and the rest of the players are limit rotation players, and D'Antoni really pulls everything he can from them, but I don't believe they'll be able to match the Nuggets who outplayed them in the last four matches, anyway, so I don't see why that wouldn't happen again tonight.