Playing without their injured inside duo of 7-footers Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, the Los Angeles Lakers routed the Denver Nuggets 106-89 in an exhibition game Thursday night.

Kobe Bryant had 23 points for the Lakers (6-1), while Lamar Odom had 17 points and nine rebounds.

Carmelo Anthony scored 28 points for the Nuggets (3-4), while Chauncey Billups added 19.

Bynum, out with a strained right rotator cuff, is day-to-day and could play in the Lakers' final exhibition game against Denver in San Diego on Friday. But Bynum said he will "definitely" be back for the season opener Tuesday against the Clippers.

Gasol, an all-star last season, will not play in the preseason finale and it wasn't known whether he would be ready Tuesday.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.