(Sports Network) - Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl certainly got some things of his husky chest regarding departed All-Star guard Allen Iverson.

Karl vehemently spewed his feelings about Iverson's me-first mentality and how the superstar sometimes didn't trust his teammates. Now Karl has all-world point guard Chauncey Billups running the offense and stated how there are less bad plays and more of a passing and point guard mentality on the floor.

Some of what Karl has said is true but Iverson is no doubt a future Hall of Fame playmaker who is fitting in just fine with the Detroit Pistons. Sometimes experiments or relationships don't work and one must go their separate ways. The Nuggets have wiped their hands clean of A.I. and are 7-2 since the trade. They are 7-1 in games in which Billups has suited up since it took him a few days to get into town for a physical.

Denver has won four in a row and seven of eight games overall, and is tied with the Utah Jazz atop the Northwest Division standings. Superstar forward Carmelo Anthony's numbers have dropped somewhat since Billups distributes the ball evenly, and leads the Nuggets with 20.6 points per game. The two veterans will keep Denver relevant in discussions concerning top teams in the West.

The Nuggets have beaten defending champion Boston and San Antonio on the road during the winning streak. They will try to stay impressive on Friday with a showdown against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. The Lakers have won the last eight matchups in the series, so it will be a true test for Karl's revamped roster. Antonio McDyess, who was acquired from the Pistons, was waived earlier this month.

ROAD WORK AHEAD FOR JAZZ

This isn't the Wizard of Oz and the Utah Jazz can't click their heels twice hoping for an 82-game schedule in Salt Lake City.

Utah must stay the course on the yellow brick road and learn how to win away from EnergySolutiuons Arena, where it is 6-0 this season and unbeaten in the past 14 dating back to 2007. The Jazz have scored no less than 98 points in a game at home this season and went 1-4 on a five-game road trip after opening the 2008-09 season with five straight wins.

The road ahead is a tough one, starting with Friday night's game on the road against the San Antonio Spurs. Utah has dropped 18 in a row in the regular season as the visitor in this series and 21 straight after losing three during the 2007 Western Conference finals.

Utah is banged up and has a shot at ending the lengthy slide in San Antonio since the Spurs are without top guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili because of ankle injuries. The Jazz, though, are just as roughed up with top point guard Deron Williams hampered by a sprained left ankle. Williams has missed all but two games for the Jazz this season after averaging 18.8 points and 10.5 a year ago. He is listed as questionable for Friday's game for Utah, which is 2-4 as the guest in 2008-09.

If news couldn't get any worse for Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan, forward Carlos Boozer left Wednesday's game versus Milwaukee with a strained left quadriceps and doubtful against the Spurs. Boozer reportedly underwent an MRI and results revealed a strain of the muscle. Meanwhile, center Mehmet Okur started against the Bucks after missing five games to be with his sick father in Turkey.

In addition, Jazz center Jarron Collins (elbow) is out for Friday night's game versus the Spurs, while Brevin Knight (strained left abductor muscle) and Kyle Korver (wrist) will each be gametime decisions.

Utah, which has won two straight since its unsuccessful road swing, will also visit the Memphis Grizzlies on its brief two-game trek.

WHERE'S THE THUNDER IN OKLAHOMA CITY?

It's a shame Thunder young stars Kevin Durant and Jeff Green have to expose themselves to such mediocrity at this level of basketball.

Durant, the reigning Rookie of the Year and leading scorer at 21.6 ppg, and Green are suffering through a 1-11 start to the season. The Thunder have dropped nine in a row since their only win of the season on November 2 versus Minnesota and will wrap up a three-game homestand Friday night versus the Hornets. They have lost five in a row at the Ford Center and are 1-6 as the host this season.

After Friday's game versus New Orleans, the Thunder will play six of the next eight games on the road, where they are 0-5 in 2008-09. Desmond Mason may return during the swing and is out with a right elbow injury. Mason is averaging 8.4 points and 3.9 rebounds off the pine this season.

Thunder forward Chris Wilcox returned to the court after missing five games because of a strained right knee. Wilcox had four points and four rebounds in 13 minutes of Wednesday's 108-88 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

General manager Sam Presti and head coach P.J. Carlesimo now that this team is not headed for the playoffs any time soon, and are still trying to find an identity with the current players. Besides the aforementioned Durant and Green, the Thunder are pretty much strapped for talent. Center Robert Swift is a nice presence in the paint, but that's it.

The frustration has kicked in for the Thunder. But that was expected.

IN ROY BLAZERS TRUST

Brandon Roy is only in his third year in the NBA and he has already taken the Portland Trail Blazers under his wing. The former Rookie of the Year leads the Blazers in points (21.3), assists (5.4) and steals (1.33) so far this season and has recorded 20-plus points in seven straight games and nine overall.

Roy, who had a season-high 27 points versus Orlando on October 10, has recorded at least a share of the scoring lead for Portland in nine games. The smooth passer and slick defender out of Washington had 20 points in Wednesday's 116-74 victory over the Chicago Bulls, leading the Blazers to their sixth win in eight tries.

The former first-round (6th overall) by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2006 NBA Draft, Roy is the center of a young nucleus in Portland. Head coach Nate McMillan is in his fourth season at the helm and has averaged a 10-game improvement each season. Portland also owns a winning record (7-5) 12 games into the season for the first time under McMillan.

After handing the Bulls an embarrassing loss, the Blazers improved to 5-1 in games in which they have reached 100 points this season. Roy has been a big part of that success, while center Greg Oden is finally starting to contribute. Oden, who was playing his first regular season home game versus the Bulls one year and 144 days after he was picked in 2007, scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in 17 1/2 minutes of action.

In his previous four games, Oden has registered 14.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.00 blocks with three double-doubles over that stretch. The 7-footer scored a career-high 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a loss to Golden State on November 18 at ORACLE Arena.

Oden and company will open a two-game road trip on Friday against Sacramento and Phoenix, and are 3-5 away from the Rose Garden this season. Portland will then return home for three games versus the Kings, Heat and Hornets.

JEFFERSON KEEPS MOVING ON UP FOR 'WOLVES

Al Jefferson has been keeping head coach Randy Wittman smiling since being acquired in the trade that sent Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics for five players and two draft picks.

Jefferson is the only player who flourished in Minnesota since the deal and currently leads the team in points (22.6), rebounds (10.3) and field-goal percentage (52.2). Jefferson led all scorers with 25 points in Wednesday's win over the Philadelphia 76ersat home, snapping an eight-game losing streak and lifting Minnesota to a 2-8 mark.

Minnesota, which finished with only 22 wins last season, will welcome Garnett back to the Twin Cities on Friday. Garnett played 12 seasons with the Timberwolves before being traded to Boston during the summer. He returned to the Target Center in February, but was unable to play because of an abdominal strain. Now Garnett is back at full strength to show his old fans and teammates what they're missing.

Rookie big man Kevin Love is trying to fill the void in the middle and is having somewhat of a slow start. Love is averaging 8.8 points and 6.3 boards this season, and made his first-career start in a 121-109 loss against Sacramento on November 7. Love played more than 30 minutes and registered a season-high 20 points and pulled down eight rebounds.

Love is still a work in progress, but is getting more than enough experience for a Minnesota team short on talent.

The T-Wolves will shoot for a season high two straight wins Friday versus Garnett and the Celtics. Minnesota will also close out a two-game homestand at the Target Center, where it is just 2-3 this season. At least that's better than an 0-for-5 clip as the visitor.