The Denver Nuggets, prior to their game Friday night against the Los Angles Lakers, have been without their leading scorer Carmelo Anthony for 6 games. They have been somewhat successful, going 4-2, yet there is this wondering who would take up the slack while Anthony recovers from a sprained ankle.

It turned out that that someone would come in the form of Chauncey Billups.

Billups had probably his best game of the season as he tied a career-high with 37 points, being especially effective from beyond the arc, making 9 long-distance bombs. His offensive outburst was the key as Denver routed Los Angeles 126-113 at Staples Center.

The Lakers were hot early as they doubled up Denver 13-6 on a Kobe Bryant three-pointer and would extend their lead to eleven – again on a Bryant trey. The Nuggets would chip away at their deficit until they tied things up at 28 on a J.R. Smith driving layup; two Billups layups and a Pau Gasol layup later, both teams went into the second quarter tied at 30.

Josh Powell’s jumper with 6:20 left in the half gave the Lakers a seven-point lead, but Billups drained a jumper to help the Nuggets retake the lead at 54-53; Lamar Odom’s hook shot with 1:54 remaining put Los Angeles up 58-57 and they would go into the break ahead 64-59.

The Lakers would extend their lead to nine on a Bryant jumper, but Denver would retake the lead on a Billups trey and would go into the fourth quarter up 94-89. Smith and Ty Lawson took over in the last 12 minutes, combining for the Nuggets first 12 points and extending their lead to 106-96. Billups helped seal the game for Denver, finding a wide-open Arron Afflalo, who drained a 3, making it 121-110.

Billups led the Nuggets, tying a career-high with 37 points (including 9 three-pointers), along with 4 rebounds, 8 assists and a steal while Smith came off the bench to score 27 (including 3 treys) with 4 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal; Kenyon Martin notched a double-double, adding 11 with 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and a block.

The Lakers were led by Bryant with 33 points (including four treys), 9 rebounds and a steal while Gasol added 17 with 17 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks; Shannon Brown chipped in 13 with 3 rebounds and 3 assists.

Denver (34-16) plays again on Saturday when they fly to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Jazz while Los Angeles (38-13) travels north to Portland to face the Trail Blazers – also on Saturday night.