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Rested Bryant leads Lakers against Billups and Nuggets

Nov 21, 2008 - 11:28 AM Denver (8-4) at La Lakers (9-1) 10:30 pm. EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Lakers' supporting cast has been so good, league MVP Kobe Bryant is getting some unexpected rest lately.

That may continue on Friday when the Lakers aim for an eighth straight win over the Denver Nuggets.

Bryant shot just 8-of-23 from the floor and finished with 24 points in a 105-92 win over Phoenix on Thursday. Los Angeles cruised to an easy win despite Bryant's bad shooting night, as six players reached double figures.

Los Angeles' bench outscored Phoenix's reserves, 42-30. As a result of the solid bench play, Bryant is averaging 34 minutes per game - his lowest total as a full-time starter since 1998-99.

"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," Bryant said following Thursday's win. "I've been sitting the whole fourth quarter. That's pretty amazing."

Based on recent history, Bryant may not be on the floor in the waning minutes against Denver. Los Angeles won all three regular-season meetings between the teams, then outscored the Nuggets by an average of 18.5 points in sweeping in the first round of the playoffs a year ago.

Bryant scored 33 points in a 104-97 win over Denver on November 1.

The Nuggets enter riding a four-game winning streak, and will look to improve to 8-1 since acquiring Chauncey Billups from Detroit. Billups had 22 points, five rebounds and six assists in a 91-81 win over San Antonio on Wednesday.