Van Exel Takes Up Slack as Lakers Win, 132-117

As if anyone would have noticed Shaquille O’Neal even if he had been here.

The Thursday night that began at McNichols Arena with so much attention on the absence inside ended with the focus on the presence outside, where the Lakers could have been running clear-outs for Nick Van Exel at the three-point line the way he was going. He had eight baskets from behind the arc to tie his own franchise record and 30 points and nine assists in all before resting the entire fourth quarter in burying Denver, 132-117, before 16,713.

Like they say, it’s good to open with a joke. But figure the next Laker challenges will be a little tougher--Seattle, Cleveland, New York, Houston and Atlanta are all up within the next seven games.

Can’t you just hear the rest of the West counting the Lakers out?

“I hope so,” said Van Exel, who has carried the team for stretches before. “I hope everyone thinks that way. I hope everybody relaxes against us.”

“It’s going to be tough,” he said. “But we’re going to have to do it. We know what we have to do. We can get it done.”

That was never much of a concern against the Nuggets, the Lakers building a 15-point lead midway through the second quarter, pouring it on after halftime and then turning things over to the bench in the fourth quarter. Van Exel played only 29 minutes, with Eddie Jones getting his 22 points in 27 minutes and Elden Campbell 19 points, five rebounds and four blocks in 27 minutes.

In the end, the eight three-pointers equaled the mark by Van Exel against Dallas on Dec. 13, 1994, and the 132 points tied for the most in the league this season. The Nuggets also had 132 against New Jersey on Jan. 20.

* THE GAME: Nick Van Exel tied a franchise record in 132-117 rout of Nuggets.

* MARK HEISLER: It is harder without Shaquille O’Neal, but not impossible.

* ROLE CHANGE: Kobe Bryant is no longer the backup point guard.