David Thompson can pinpoint the precise moment the Lakers pretty much began to own the Nuggets.

But before we get to April 15, 1979, at McNichols Sports Arena, consider that when the Nuggets entered the NBA in 1976, maybe they didn't own the Lakers. But at least they rented them.

The Nuggets won eight of the first 12 meetings. Then they split the first two games of that April 1979 Western Conference three- game miniseries.

With 12 seconds left in the deciding Game 3, Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hit a skyhook for a 112-111 Los Angeles lead. Going for the win, Thompson, the Nuggets guard, put up a 15-foot jumper.

"Ron Boone knocked me off- balance," Thompson said of the miss that secured the Lakers' win. "He definitely fouled me. Something like that you never forget."

Thompson said one "could say that started" Denver's longtime frustration with the Lakers, which is at 30 years and counting.

Overall, the Lakers have met the Nuggets four times in the playoffs and won 13 of 15 games. That includes a 4-0 first-round sweep last season.

The Lakers, who drafted Magic Johnson the subsequent season, have won eight titles since the noncall on Thompson. They've dominated the Nuggets in the regular season and have beaten them nine straight overall.

But somehow, some way, the Nuggets believe they've narrowed the gap. Heading into their game between the teams tonight at the Pepsi Center, the Nuggets (38-20) have the third- best record in the West and the Lakers (47-10) have the best.

"Everybody feels that way," coach George Karl said of the Nuggets getting closer to the Lakers. "I think (the Nuggets are) very comfortable with that."

It sure would help the Nuggets' cause if they have center Nene back tonight after he has missed two games because of a bruised right knee. Nene is listed as questionable, with Karl saying "the pendulum has swung" and "there's a chance that he'll play."

The Lakers say that when the Nuggets are healthy, they have narrowed the gap. They point to the Nuggets having gone 37-17 since point guard Chauncey Billups was acquired Nov. 3.

"They're a little more organized," said center Pau Gasol, whose Lakers lead the season series 2-0, with one game played before Billups arrived. "They have a true point guard that gives them better balance."

Lakers guard Derek Fisher calls Billups "that rudder in the water that just keeps the ship going in the right direction."

Against the Lakers, the Nuggets usually run into an iceberg.

Take the 1987 first-round series. Before Game 1, then-Nuggets coach Doug Moe declared, "We got no shot to beat the Lakers."

He was right. The Nuggets lost 3-0, being outscored by an average of 27.3 points.

At least two years earlier, the Nuggets thought they had a chance. Denver won Game 2 of the 1985 West final in Los Angeles to tie the series 1-1 and seize home-court advantage.

But the Nuggets were doomed by injuries to Alex English and Fat Lever. They lost the final three games.

Bill Hanzlik, then a scrappy forward, said the Nuggets felt they had a shot, until injuries hit. But he admitted it would have helped "if Magic would have pulled his hamstring."

But now Hanzlik and Moe, a team consultant, believe Denver is making up ground.

"We're much better equipped," Moe said. "We're a much better team. But we're a team that has to stay healthy."

Because of Nene's injury, Karl believes the Nuggets might better show their newfound muscle down the road against the Lakers.

"We're more prepared now," Denver guard J.R. Smith said. "We definitely match up better than we did last year. We've got a true point guard who's been in big situations."

Billups is the only guy on Denver's payroll who could be dubbed a Lakers slayer. He was Most Valuable Player of the 2004 Finals when he and the Pistons whipped the Lakers.

While Thompson might be able to pinpoint when the Lakers began to own the Nuggets, Billups might be the guy who eventually could buy them out.

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