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Nuggets down Lakers

Nov 14, 2013 - 6:18 AM Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Wilson Chandler returned to Denver's lineup and helped the Nuggets pull away in the fourth quarter for a 111-99 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Chandler strained his right hamstring on the second day of training camp and had not played in Denver's first six contests. He was a much-needed addition off the bench -- 12 points and five rebounds -- for a club that had not won consecutive games until Wednesday.

Timofey Mozgov tied a career high with 23 points, Kenneth Faried added 21 points and 13 rebounds and Ty Lawson contributed 19 points and seven assists in the victory.

Jordan Hill, Pau Gasol and Steve Blake each recorded double-doubles in a losing effort. Hill made a case to stay in the starting lineup with an 18- point, 15-rebound effort. Gasol finished with 25 points and 12 boards and Blake logged 15 points and 11 assists.

The Lakers were playing the second game of a back-to-back after rolling to a convincing win over New Orleans. They stayed within striking distance Wednesday but did not have the legs down the stretch, hitting just 25 percent (6-of-24) from the floor over the final 12 minutes.

Chandler hit a pair of 3-pointers during a 10-0 run that turned a six-point game into a 103-87 Nuggets lead with 5:04 remaining.

"With everybody healthy, we're a pretty good team. We can play with the best of them," Chandler said.

The closest LA got from there was a dozen.

"If you give this team momentum at home they take full advantage of it, and that's what happened," Blake said.

The Lakers scored the game's first eight points, but the early lead didn't last long. Denver responded with a 15-2 run during the middle stages and led by as many as 10 before Nick Young drained a late 3-pointer to cut LA's deficit to 33-28 heading to the second.

Denver put in 10 of the first 12 points in the second quarter, only to have the Lakers take the blow and rally back just before the break. The visitors were within two at one point and went into the locker room trailing 60-54

That's the way it went in the third, with the Nuggets failing to put the nail in the coffin as the Lakers scored the final six points of the frame to get within 83-79 going into the fourth.

Game Notes

The Lakers' bench, one day after totaling 56 points against the Pelicans, combined for just 28 ... Denver's reserves had 51 points ... The Nuggets held a 60-32 advantage in points in the paint and scored 17 more second-chance points (36-19) ... Denver has won four straight meetings with the Lakers.