LAKERS TONIGHT

Opponent--Denver Nuggets.

Site--Forum.

Time--6:30.

TV--Fox Sports West.

Radio--KLAC (570), KWKW (1330).

Records--Lakers 11-6, Nuggets 5-11.

Record vs. Nuggets (1995-96)--2-2.

Laker update--Coming off what Coach Del Harris called their best defensive showing of the season, an 84-76 win at Detroit in which the Pistons shot 34.2%, the Lakers get a chance to build on that against a Nugget team struggling on offense. The effort Friday came after six of the previous nine opponents shot 50% or better. After playing 10 of their first 17 on the road, the Lakers begin a stretch in which six of the next eight are at the Forum, and the two away are short hops, to Utah and Sacramento six days apart.

Nugget update--They are 1-2 since Dick Motta replaced Bernie Bickerstaff as coach, which includes a four-point loss Wednesday at Utah after leading by 34 at halftime and a loss at home to Minnesota on Friday. The victory was against Phoenix. Overall, the Nuggets have lost six of seven. Opponents averaged 106.9 points in those seven.