Los Angeles, CA (My Sportsbook) - The Los Angeles Lakers try to improve their playoff position on Tuesday when they host the dismal Denver Nuggets at the Staples Center.

The Lakers currently hold the sixth spot in the Western Conference and still have an outside chance at getting home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. LA trails the fifth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers by one game and the fourth-place Minnesota Timberwolves by 1 1/2 games.

Los Angeles suffered a heart-breaking setback on Sunday, as they fell 101-99 to the Blazers at the Rose Garden. Rasheed Wallace's three-pointer with 3.6 seconds left lifted Portland to the win.

Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant each scored 36 points for the Lakers, who had their six-game winning streak snapped. O'Neal added 11 boards, while Bryant contributed seven assists and six rebounds for Los Angeles.

Wallace's game-winner came just after Bryant had hit a clutch jumper to give LA a 99-98 lead. However, Bryant's last-second desperation attempt hit off the backboard harmlessly as time expired.

LA, which plays its regular-season home finale on Tuesday, has won 14 straight home games and is 30-10 overall as the host this season. The Lakers are 31-19 against the Western Conference.

The Nuggets have dropped their last six games and are coming off a 101-79 setback to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.

Jeff Trepagnier, who signed on for the remainder of the season earlier in the day, scored a career-high 15 to lead the Nuggets. Shammond Williams and Juwan Howard each had 12 points in a losing effort.

Chris Andersen pulled down a game-high 12 boards for the Nuggets, who played without center Nene Hilario (back). Hilario is questionable for Tuesday's game.

The Nuggets, who play their final road game of the season, have dropped eight straight away from home and are a horrid 4-36 overall on the road.

The Lakers have won all three previous meetings with the Nuggets this year and will go for the season sweep on Tuesday.

LA has won seven of the last eight encounters overall. Denver has dropped 11 of its last 12 road games against the Lakers.