Threatt Points the Way, 92-86 : Pro basketball: Guard scores 27 points as Lakers hand Nuggets their seventh consecutive loss.

Laker Coach Randy Pfund shudders to think about how his team would be faring without point guard Sedale Threatt.

“Sedale is now a key part of Laker lore,” Pfund said. “Sedale has come in for two years now and he’s really been the glue for us as far as handling the ball and keeping us in some kind of order out there.

“I hate to think where we’d be without Sedale, even more so because we don’t have a true point guard with the exception of Duane (Cooper).”

Threatt scored 27 points as the Lakers ended a two-game losing streak with a 92-86 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night before a sellout crowd of 17,022 at McNichols Arena.

Acquired from the Seattle SuperSonics last season as Magic Johnson’s backup, Threatt was thrust into the starting lineup after Johnson’s sudden retirement.

“I’m really confident at the point guard position now,” Threatt said. “I understand the system and where my guys want to get the ball. The leadership position is something I’m acquiring slowly.

“I find myself yelling at guys to get in the right position, but I’m not used to it. I don’t like to lose, so I will do anything it takes. But I’m still not used to it.”

Threatt, who has scored in double figures in 13 consecutive games, has totaled 20 or more points nine times this season.

Laker forward Sam Perkins, who had 21 points and 11 rebounds Saturday night, says Threatt is playing well, adding: “Because Sedale has the ball so much and we set all of those picks (for him), he’s going to get his chances. But he works his screens and he works for his shots. He’s getting used to the point guard (position), but he’s still a shooter.”

Playing for the fourth time in five nights, in four cities, the Lakers flew here after Friday night’s 116-100 loss to the Phoenix Suns at the Forum, checking into their hotel at 3 a.m. Saturday.

But they didn’t appear to be bothered by fatigue or the altitude in the Mile High City as they forced 21 turnovers while handing the Nuggets their seventh consecutive loss.

“With four games this week, we hit rock bottom after the road loss at Dallas,” Pfund said. “And we continued our frustration at home against Phoenix. But we won two out of three on the road, so you have to give our guys credit. We had no practice and no walk-through before the game.”

Denver Coach Dan Issel, who was ejected in the third quarter after he drew his second technical foul, was lucky that he didn’t have to watch his team self-destruct in the final quarter.

Trailing 70-69 after three quarters, the Nuggets missed 10 of their next 15 shots as the Lakers opened a 10-point lead.

“We got an education in Basketball 101,” Issel said. “It was a team-wide seminar. The (Lakers) played smart, and we didn’t. We tried to run the ball every time, and they took 16 to 18 seconds off the clock every time. . . . We were half a step behind all night.”

Leading 81-79 after Denver forward LaPhonso Ellis, who had 14 points and 14 rebounds, made a layup with 3:09 remaining, the Lakers melted the Nuggets with a 10-2 spurt to take control.

Center Vlade Divac, who had eight points and 14 rebounds, made an 18-foot jumper to start the run, and Threatt stole the ball from guard Chris Jackson, who led Denver with 21 points, to set up Tony Smith for a jumper. Smith intercepted a pass by Jackson on the Nuggets’ next possession, and Threatt made a jumper from the top of the key to give the Lakers an eight-point lead with 1:05 to play.

After Jackson made a layup with 35 seconds left, Threatt and A.C. Green each made two free throws to seal the victory.

“It’s been a roller coaster week, but at least we’re stable going into the Christmas party,” Pfund said. “That’s what’s important.”

Laker Notes

The Lakers hope that guard Byron Scott, who has missed 16 games because of a severely sprained right foot, will return to action when they leave on a five-game, 10-day trip on Dec. 28. “I’ve got to wait until the pain is gone,” Scott said. “I can run on it but there’s still pain, and they want to make sure there’s no pain at all.” . . . The Lakers have invited a group of underprivileged children to their Christmas Party on Monday. The guests will receive gifts from the team.