The Nuggets look to improve to 8-1 with Billups in the lineup as they try to snap an eight-game losing streak to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night at Staples Center.

Five straight first-round playoff exits - including two since the blockbuster trade that brought Allen Iverson to Denver in 2006 - surely had something to do with the Nuggets' decision to send the former MVP to Detroit for Billups, a Denver native who played in college at Colorado.

Billups, a three-time All-Star who won an NBA title with Detroit in 2004, thinks he'll be able to help the Nuggets (8-4) take the next step. He's averaging 18.8 points and 5.9 assists in eight games with the team.

Perhaps his most important contribution has been on the defensive end, where Denver has ranked near the bottom of the league in opponents' scoring average each of the last three seasons.

That was something the Nuggets addressed in training camp, but they gave up 104.0 points per game during their 1-3 start. With Billups in the lineup, Denver has held opponents to an average of 92.5 points.

"They said everything they did before I came was all about defense," Billups said after a 91-81 road win over San Antonio on Wednesday. "I think me coming, and coming with a defensive mind-set, it just enhances that."

Billups, the reigning Western Conference player of the week, had 22 points, five rebounds and six assists against the Spurs - the Nuggets' second consecutive impressive road win following a 94-85 victory over defending NBA champion Boston on Nov. 14.

Those could be key learning experiences as the Nuggets prepare to visit the Lakers (9-1), who have the league's best record.

"We've had a tough eight or nine games where we've played some tough teams in some tough buildings, and we've been successful," Billups said. "We've just got to try and continue to build on what we've done."

The Lakers have a strong foundation for building as well. They're third in the league with 104.9 points per game, and third in opponent scoring average at 91.4. Kobe Bryant scored 24 to lead six Los Angeles players in double figures in a 105-92 win over Phoenix on Thursday.

"I was telling Luke (Walton) about 10 minutes ago that this might be the first season I average 31 minutes because we've been blowing people out," said Bryant, averaging 34.3 minutes, his lowest since 1997-98, when he only started one game. "I've been sitting the whole fourth quarter. That's pretty amazing."

If the Lakers' recent success against the Nuggets is any indication, Bryant might get more rest.

The Lakers won all three regular-season games against the Nuggets last season before sweeping them in the first round of the playoffs en route to the NBA finals. They outscored the Nuggets by an average of 18.5 points in four total games at Staples Center last season.

Los Angeles extended its streak in the series with a 104-97 victory on Nov. 1 in Denver. Bryant scored 33 in that game, two days before the Nuggets completed the Billups trade.