IT'S NOT A NIGHT FOR STAR GAZING KOBE QUIET IN WIN, IVERSON INEFFECTIVE LAKERS 123, DENVER 104.

Byline: RICH HAMMOND  Staff Writer

After a practice this week, Kobe Bryant talked about how the game is more enjoyable for him when he can pass the ball instead of shoot it. League pundits nationwide responded with a collective snicker.

But there was Bryant on Friday night, passing, passing and passing again, setting up teammates all over the court in the Lakers' stunningly easy 123-104 victory over Denver in front of 18,997 at Staples Center.

The Lakers made their first 11shots from the field and Bryant happily receded into the shadows.

Bryant finished with eightpoints, a season low, and failed to crack double digits for the first time in almost two years.

Bryant took just nine shots -- and made two -- in 27 minutes, but had 10 assists.

``It felt great. Fantastic,'' Bryant said with a wide grin. ``I needed a night off. In all seriousness, I'd rather have this type of game.

``To have Andrew Bynum and Smush Parker have that kind of game, that's fun.''

Bynum had another strong effort, with 19 points, 10rebounds and a career-high six blocks in 28 minutes, and Parker, bolstered by a hot hand early, made 9 of 14 from the field for a team-high 23 points.

The game still centered, as most Laker games do, around Bryant, but not in the way most have to come to expect. Bryant moved the ball and had eight assists in the game's first five minutes.

Bryant was 2 of 9 and didn't make a shot until the firstminute of the third quarter.

``Kobe facilitated a lot of things,'' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. ``I know there were some people in the stands who wanted him to score.

``But he did the right thing in the type of game that was being played.

``I think he felt very comfortable with that, too.''

After a marathon overtime win the night before in Sacramento, the Lakers built a 25-point lead over the Nuggets in the third quarter and were able to go with an all-reserves lineup for much of the fourth quarter.

The Lakers moved to 11games over .500 and handed the Nuggets their fourth consecutive defeat. The Lakers made 47 field goals and had 39 assists. Luke Walton added 18 points and eightassists.

``It was ball movement,'' Parker said. ``We made the extra pass and guys were finishing. We made that extra pass and I was the recipient of a lot of them.''

Parker made three shots in the Lakers' 11-for-11 start, which was all the more staggering considering their late night in Sacramento and a flight home that featured turbulence and a rough landing.

Jackson made a rare move when he canceled the morning shootaround Friday, but the Lakers were anything but flat as they took a 23-9 lead and maintained a double-digit lead for most of the game.

Earl Boykins provided the only highlight for the Nuggets, with 24 points off the bench. Allen Iverson had 16 points.

``We are a team that's shorthanded,'' Denver coach George Karl said, in reference to suspensions to Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith. ``(We) caught a team that's playing pretty hot.''

That starts with Bynum, the 19-year-old center who had a second consecutive solid game.

Bynum played an effective game Thursday in Sacramento, but the question became how well the inconsistent center would fare in the second of back-to-back games. Bynum answered any doubts early.

``When I have time to be out there and know I'm not going to get yanked, I feel more comfortable,'' Bynum said.

Bynum made his first fourshots from the field and scored eight of the Lakers' first 19 points.

At halftime, the numbers looked staggering. The Lakers had 68 points, two from Bryant. The Lakers took 50 shots, two from Bryant (both misses).

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) The Lakers' Smush Parker dunks on his way to a team-high 23 points Friday.

(2) The Lakers' Andrew Bynum, right, moves into block a shot by Denver's Allen Iverson, while Smush Parker, left, watches the play. Iverson had 16 points and five assists in a loss.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer