Lakers-Rockets Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Nov 04 2009 12:42AM

Ron Artest left the Houston Rockets to sign with a Los Angeles Lakers team he felt gave him the best chance to finally win a ring.

Houston, though, is now playing at a high level without Artest and two other superstars - and with former Laker Trevor Ariza.

Artest returns to the Toyota Center on Wednesday night, when Los Angeles faces the Rockets for the first time since the teams' seven-game series in last season's Western Conference semifinals.

Acquired in a trade with Sacramento prior to 2008-09, Artest averaged 17.1 points and 5.2 rebounds as the Rockets went 53-29 and advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in 12 seasons.

Houston won Game 1 of the West semifinals in Los Angeles, but fell to the Lakers in seven.

"I thought it was a good learning experience for these guys," Artest said following the Rockets' 89-70 Game 7 defeat at Staples Center on May 17. "They've been through a Game 7. Most young teams get swept. That will really help the Rockets in the future.''

Artest, though, ultimately decided not to be a part of that future by signing a five-year, $33 million deal with the defending champion Lakers.

"This was a long time coming,'' he said. "As I started to compete against the Lakers and against Kobe (Bryant), I had respect for him and I always wanted to be a teammate of his."

Playing their first road game of the season Tuesday, the Lakers (3-1) defeated Oklahoma City 101-98 in overtime.

Artest scored a season-high 20 points, while Andrew Bynum posted his third double-double of the season with 22 and 10 boards. The star of the night, though, was Bryant, who had 31 points while battling flulike symptoms. The Lakers' star hit the go-ahead jumper in overtime and a pair of free throws with 18 seconds remaining.

"When Kobe's out there, he wants it,'' Artest said. "That's the great thing. He wants it. It's not like I have to really go get it.''

Bryant averaged 28.3 points on 53.0 percent shooting as Los Angeles won all four regular-season matchups versus Houston in 2008-09.

Ariza, who scored 11.3 points per game and shot 47.6 percent from 3-point range during the Lakers' 2008-09 playoff run, signed with Rockets in the offseason to help minimize the loss of Artest.

"I think (Houston is) the best place for me,'' Ariza said over the summer. "I think I have more of an opportunity here.''

He's making the most of that opportunity thus far, averaging a team-high 21.3 points.

Playing without Artest, Yao Ming - out for the season following foot surgery - and Tracy McGrady (microsurgery on left knee), the Rockets have won three straight since a 96-87 season-opening loss at Portland.

"When you lose your star players, people don't expect very much from you but we've had the attitude that we're going to play hard, compete and we're going to see what we can do with this group," coach Rick Adelman told the Rockets' official Web site.

Adelman has started 6-foot-6 Chuck Hayes at center each game, but the undersized Rockets have compensated by shooting 44.8 percent from 3-point range.

"We have good shooters on this team, so we're going to be really aggressive,'' said Shane Battier, who hit three of the Rockets' 10 3-pointers in Monday's 113-96 victory at Utah.

Ariza, Aaron Brooks and Chase Budinger each hit two from long range, and Budinger finished with a career-high 17 points.

The rookie also rolled his ankle in Monday's victory, but is expected to be available Wednesday.

Lakers forward Pau Gasol worked out prior to Tuesday's game, but has still not played this season due to a strained right hamstring.

Copyright 2009 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Kobe, Bynum lead Lakers to second straight OT victory

By Michael Murphy, for NBA.com
Posted Thursday November 5, 2009 1:25AM

HOUSTON (NBA.com exclusive) -- Wednesday's game at Toyota Center was played up as a matchup between the Rockets' Trevor Ariza and the Lakers' Ron Artest, a pair of free agents who swapped teams in the offseason.

Oh, and the Lakers also had a guy named Kobe Bryant that drew a bit of attention.

But what drew the sellout crowd of 18,291 fans was far more compelling -- watching the NBA's loftiest example of aristocracy, the world champion Lakers, take on the league's most democratic team in the Rockets.

Score another one for the upper class.

The Lakers had to go overtime for the second consecutive night, but got 41 points from Bryant and key plays from Andrew Bynum to escape with a 103-102 victory over the Rockets.

"That was experience [at] winning games," said Lamar Odom when asked to explain how the Lakers managed to pull out the win. "That was just toughing it out. We hung in there and hung in there. Everyone hung in there."

Indeed, the Lakers had to roll up their exquisitely tailored sleeves and get to work, especially Bryant and Bynum.

Bryant scored six of his points in the extra session and was especially pleased to have former Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon sitting at midcourt to witness the exhibition. Bryant, looking to hone his post moves, worked with Olajuwon in the offseason. He showed off what he learned by taking the Rockets' Shane Battier, their designated Kobe defender, down low on several possessions.

"Hakeem was very pleased with what I was doing," said Bryant after a postgame visit from Olajuwon. "It was an honor for me to have the opportunity to work with him, and I want to make him proud."

Funny, but if you had asked the Rockets, they probably would have thought that Bynum was the one who benefitted from some offseason tutoring from Olajuwon. He finished with 17 points and 17 rebounds (despite nursing a sprained right elbow) and knocked down three free throws in the final 44 seconds of overtime to seal the win.

"I feel fine," said Bynum, who added three blocks and a team-high five assists. "I tried to play defense the entire game. The elbow [hurts]. I can hardly lift it up."

Lifting the Lakers to the win was quite enough on this night.

For the Rockets, the loss was a dagger.

Just like in last year's playoffs, when Houston extended the Lakers to seven games despite crippling injuries, the Rockets gave the Lakers everything they had. But just like last year's playoffs, it wasn't quite enough.

"I thought we should have won," said Rockets coach Rick Adelman. "I thought we had a great chance of winning. I thought we should have won, but things happen and you have to move on."

Because of injuries to superstars Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, the Rockets have adopted an all-for-one, one-for-all approach to the game. Rather than one player scoring 50, the Rockets prefer to have four players each score 13. That was again the case against the Lakers, with the Rockets placing six players in double figures, led by Carl Landry's 20 points. And with 6-6 center Chuck Hayes (14 points, 14 rebounds) leading the way, the Rockets finished with a 54-48 edge off the glass.

"They play hard," Bryant said. "We knew coming in that they were going to play extremely, extremely hard. And that's what they did. They have some players... They have some guys who can hurt you."

But in the end, the Lakers had two things the Rockets did not possess -- Bryant and a 7-foot dominator in the post.

"When he plays like that, it makes it very difficult to try and defend us," said Bryant of Bynum. "Especially when we're going to him on the block and they have to double. It's tough, because he's so long that when he catches it up high you have no choice but to foul him."

The Lakers appeared to have won the game when Artest drilled a 3-pointer with 30 seconds to play for a 92-89 lead. But in what Jackson termed "poetic justice," the Rockets got a 3-pointer from Ariza with 14.2 seconds left that forced overtime.

"I didn't even think about it. I really didn't," said Ariza of his game-tying shot. "I just know I hit the 3 to tie the game and take it into overtime."

And that's when the Lakers, who were just one day removed from an overtime win at Oklahoma City, got to work. Again.

"We had to tough it out," said Artest, who finished with 15 points. "It was a hard game. It wasn't the type of game we wanted to play, but we showed mental toughness."

• Lakers: Gasol
• Rockets: Budinger, McGrady, Yao

• Lakers: Artest, Bryant, Bynum
• Rockets: Ariza

• Lead Changes: 14
• Times Tied: 15

• Arena: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
• Officials: #18 Mark Wunderlich, #75 Eric Dalen, #52 Pat Fraher
• Attendance: 18291
• Duration: 2:46

Los Angeles Lakers (28-6)		Houston Rockets (20-15)
Start of 1st Quarter
(12:00) Jump Ball Scola vs Bynum (Odom gains possession)
Bryant Turnaround Fade Away shot: Made (2 PTS)	11:45 [LAL 2-0]
	11:31 [HOU 2-2]	Ariza Pullup Jump shot: Made (2 PTS)
Bryant Jump Shot: Missed	11:18
	11:17	Scola Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	11:07 [HOU 4-2]	Scola Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Hayes (1 AST)
Fisher Jump Shot: Missed	10:42
Bynum Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	10:41
Bynum Dunk Shot: Made (2 PTS)	10:39 [LAL 4-4]
	10:25 [HOU 7-4]	Battier 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Brooks (1 AST)
Bryant Turnaround Fade Away shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Artest (1 AST)	10:08 [LAL 6-7]
	09:54	Scola Hook Shot: Missed
Bryant Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	09:52
Artest Running Jump Shot: Missed	09:40
Artest Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	09:39
	09:38	Scola Foul : Personal (1 PF)
Bynum Jump Shot: Missed	09:29
	09:28	Hayes Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	09:14	Ariza Layup Shot: Missed Block: Odom (1 BLK)
	09:12	Scola Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	09:11 [HOU 9-6]	Scola Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Bynum Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	09:11
	09:11	Double Technical - Ariza, Artest
	09:11	Scola Free Throw 1 of 1 Missed
Odom Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	09:11
Fisher Pullup Jump shot: Missed	08:56
	08:54	Ariza Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	08:45	Brooks Jump Bank Shot: Missed
Bryant Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	08:43
Bryant Running Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS)	08:35 [LAL 8-9]
	08:29	Brooks Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Odom (1 ST)
Fisher Jump Shot: Missed	08:23
	08:21	Ariza Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	08:16	Ariza 3pt Shot: Missed
Odom Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	08:15
Odom Layup Shot: Missed	07:58
	07:57	Hayes Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	07:50	Battier 3pt Shot: Missed
Bynum Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	07:49
Bynum Hook Shot: Missed	07:35
	07:33	Scola Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	07:22 [HOU 11-8]	Scola Turnaround Hook Shot: Made (6 PTS)
Bryant Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Hayes (1 ST)	07:04
	06:54 [HOU 13-8]	Hayes Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Ariza (1 AST)
Bryant Jump Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Odom (1 AST)	06:37 [LAL 10-13]
	06:17	Brooks Turnover : Backcourt Turnover (2 TO)
Bryant Jump Shot: Missed	06:08
	06:07	Scola Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	05:43	Brooks Driving Layup Shot: Missed
Bryant Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	05:41
Bynum Layup Shot: Missed	05:35
	05:34	Battier Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	05:27 [HOU 16-10]	Battier 3pt Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Brooks (2 AST)
Team Timeout : Regular	05:18
Bryant Foul : Offensive (1 PF)	05:11
Bryant Turnover : Foul (2 TO)	05:11
	04:46	Team Turnover : Shot Clock Turnover
Odom Layup Shot: Missed Block: Hayes (1 BLK)	04:29
Odom Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	04:27
Odom Tip Shot: Missed	04:27
Team Rebound	04:26
Bryant Turnaround Fade Away shot: Missed	04:16
	04:14	Scola Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)
	04:09 [HOU 18-10]	Hayes Reverse Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Scola (1 AST)
Artest 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS)	03:54 [LAL 13-18]
	03:42 [HOU 20-13]	Brooks Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Hayes (2 AST)
Bynum Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Bryant (1 AST)	03:29 [LAL 15-20]
	03:20	Ariza Layup Shot: Missed Block: Bynum (1 BLK)
	03:19	Ariza Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
Bynum Substitution replaced by Powell	03:19
Fisher Substitution replaced by Farmar	03:19
	03:14	Ariza 3pt Shot: Missed
	03:13	Battier Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	03:11	Battier Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Bryant (1 ST)
	03:11	Hayes Foul : Loose Ball (1 PF)
	03:11	Hayes Substitution replaced by Landry
Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed	02:51
	02:49	Scola Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)
Odom Foul : Personal (1 PF)	02:45
	02:45	Team Timeout : Regular
	02:45	Battier Substitution replaced by Lowry
Odom Substitution replaced by Bynum	02:45
Bryant Substitution replaced by Vujacic	02:45
	02:31	Landry Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed
Vujacic Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	02:29
Bynum Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Farmar (1 AST)	02:13 [LAL 17-20]
	02:03	Landry Jump Shot: Missed
Artest Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	02:01
Artest Layup Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Powell (1 AST)	01:52 [LAL 19-20]
	01:33 [HOU 22-19]	Scola Driving Layup Shot: Made (8 PTS)
Powell 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Bynum (1 AST)	01:12 [LAL 22-22]
	00:49.9	Scola Jump Shot: Missed
Powell Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	00:46.9
	00:46.9	Scola Substitution replaced by Andersen
	00:34.3	Ariza Foul : Personal (1 PF)
Artest 3pt Shot: Missed	00:22.9
Farmar Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	00:21.9
Artest Pullup Jump shot: Missed	00:00.9
Bynum Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)	00:00.0
Bynum Tip Shot: Missed	00:00.0
Team Rebound	00:00.0
End of 1st Quarter
Los Angeles Lakers (28-6)		Houston Rockets (20-15)
Start of 2nd QuarterBack to Top
	11:37	Lowry 3pt Shot: Missed
Bynum Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)	11:35
	11:21	Andersen Foul : Personal (1 PF)
Powell Jump Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Bynum (2 AST)	11:05 [LAL 24-22]
	10:52 [HOU 24-24]	Ariza Pullup Jump shot: Made (4 PTS)
	10:35	Lowry Foul : Defense 3 Second (0 PF)
Bryant Free Throw Technical (9 PTS)	10:35 [LAL 25-24]
Bryant Jump Shot: Missed	10:28
	10:27	Lowry Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
Farmar Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	10:23
	10:23 [HOU 25-25]	Lowry Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)
	10:23	Ariza Substitution replaced by Battier
	10:23	Lowry Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Bynum Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)	10:23
Bryant Turnaround Bank shot: Made (11 PTS)	10:01 [LAL 27-25]
	09:42	Lowry Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Farmar (1 ST)
Powell Layup Shot: Missed	09:32
Bynum Rebound (Off:3 Def:3)	09:31
	09:31	Andersen Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Bynum Free Throw 1 of 2 (7 PTS)	09:31 [LAL 28-25]
Bynum Free Throw 2 of 2 (8 PTS)	09:31 [LAL 29-25]
	09:23	Brooks Turnover : Bad Pass (3 TO) Steal:Bryant (2 ST)
Brown Jump Shot: Missed	09:15
	09:13	Andersen Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	09:01	Andersen Jump Shot: Missed
Brown Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	09:00
Brown Driving Reverse Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Bynum (3 AST)	08:42 [LAL 31-25]
	08:31 [HOU 27-31]	Landry Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Farmar Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	08:31
	08:31	Timeout : Regular
Powell Substitution replaced by Odom	08:31
Farmar Substitution replaced by Walton	08:31
	08:31	Brooks Substitution replaced by Ariza
	08:31 [HOU 28-31]	Landry Free Throw 1 of 1 (3 PTS)
Bynum Layup Shot: Missed Block: Ariza (1 BLK)	08:19
	08:17	Ariza Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
Brown Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	08:14
	08:14	Lowry Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	08:14	Team Rebound
	08:14 [HOU 29-31]	Lowry Free Throw 2 of 2 (2 PTS)
Bryant Step Back Jump shot: Missed	07:51
	07:51	Team Rebound
Bynum Foul : Loose Ball (2 PF)	07:51
	07:33 [HOU 31-31]	Landry Layup Shot: Made (5 PTS)
Odom Pullup Jump shot: Missed	07:15
	07:13	Lowry Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
Odom Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	07:09
	07:09 [HOU 32-31]	Lowry Free Throw 1 of 2 (3 PTS)
	07:09 [HOU 33-31]	Lowry Free Throw 2 of 2 (4 PTS)
	06:56	Andersen Foul : Shooting (3 PF)
Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (12 PTS)	06:56 [LAL 32-33]
	06:56	Andersen Substitution replaced by Hayes
Bynum Substitution replaced by Powell	06:56
Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	06:56
	06:56	Landry Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	06:41	Battier 3pt Shot: Missed
Powell Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	06:40
Walton Jump Shot: Missed	06:25
	06:23	Landry Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	06:13 [HOU 35-32]	Landry Driving Layup Shot: Made (7 PTS)
Odom 3pt Shot: Missed	05:56
Powell Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	05:54
Bryant Turnaround Fade Away shot: Missed	05:43
	05:41	Landry Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	05:27	Ariza Turnaround Fade Away shot: Missed
Powell Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	05:25
Bryant Layup Shot: Made (14 PTS)	05:07 [LAL 34-35]
	05:07	Battier Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
	05:07	Team Timeout : Regular
Brown Substitution replaced by Artest	05:07
Walton Substitution replaced by Fisher	05:07
Bryant Free Throw 1 of 1 Missed	05:07
	05:07	Hayes Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	04:48 [HOU 37-34]	Hayes Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Ariza (2 AST)
Odom Jump Bank Shot: Missed	04:35
	04:33	Hayes Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
	04:12 [HOU 39-34]	Battier Jump Hook Shot: Made (8 PTS)
Powell Jump Shot: Missed	03:59
Bryant Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	03:57
Bryant Layup Shot: Made (16 PTS)	03:56 [LAL 36-39]
	03:31	Ariza 3pt Shot: Missed
	03:29	Hayes Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)
	03:29	Hayes Tip Shot: Missed
	03:28	Team Rebound
	03:28	Hayes Substitution replaced by Scola
Powell Substitution replaced by Bynum	03:28
	03:18	Lowry Running Jump Shot: Missed
	03:16	Lowry Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	03:16	Lowry Reverse Layup Shot: Missed
	03:13	Landry Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	03:12 [HOU 41-36]	Landry Layup Shot: Made (9 PTS)
Odom Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)	02:54 [LAL 38-41]
	02:54	Ariza Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Team Timeout : Regular	02:54
Odom Free Throw 1 of 1 (3 PTS)	02:54 [LAL 39-41]
	02:38	Scola Foul : Offensive (2 PF)
	02:38	Scola Turnover : Foul (1 TO)
	02:38	Lowry Substitution replaced by Brooks
Odom Jump Shot: Missed	02:19
	02:18	Scola Rebound (Off:1 Def:6)
	02:14	Landry Foul : Offensive (1 PF)
	02:14	Landry Turnover : Foul (1 TO)
Bynum Hook Shot: Made (10 PTS)	02:01 [LAL 41-41]
	01:43	Scola Jump Shot: Missed
Bryant Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	01:42
Bynum Foul : Offensive (3 PF)	01:31
Bynum Turnover : Foul (1 TO)	01:31
Bynum Technical	01:31
Bynum Substitution replaced by Powell	01:31
	01:31	Brooks Free Throw Technical Missed
	01:31	Team Rebound
	01:13	Ariza Jump Shot: Missed
	01:12	Landry Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)
	01:12 [HOU 43-41]	Landry Layup Shot: Made (11 PTS)
Bryant Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	01:12
	01:12 [HOU 44-41]	Landry Free Throw 1 of 1 (12 PTS)
Powell Layup Shot: Missed	00:52.8
Powell Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)	00:51.8
Powell Putback Layup Shot: Made (7 PTS)	00:51.8 [LAL 43-44]
Artest Foul : Personal (1 PF)	00:31.7
	00:31.7 [HOU 45-43]	Ariza Free Throw 1 of 2 (5 PTS)
	00:31.7 [HOU 46-43]	Ariza Free Throw 2 of 2 (6 PTS)
	00:14.8	Battier Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	00:14.8
Team Rebound	00:14.8
Odom Substitution replaced by Walton	00:14.8
Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (17 PTS)	00:14.8 [LAL 44-46]
	00:01.8	Ariza Jump Bank Shot: Missed
	00:01.2	Landry Rebound (Off:3 Def:3)
	00:00.2	Powell Violation:Defensive Goaltending
	00:00.2 [HOU 48-44]	Landry Layup Shot: Made (14 PTS)
End of 2nd Quarter
Los Angeles Lakers (28-6)		Houston Rockets (20-15)
Start of 3rd QuarterBack to Top
	11:47 [HOU 51-44]	Brooks 3pt Shot: Made (5 PTS)
	11:32	Brooks Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (18 PTS)	11:32 [LAL 45-51]
Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (19 PTS)	11:32 [LAL 46-51]
	11:10	Ariza Running Jump Shot: Missed
Odom Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	11:08
Artest 3pt Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Bryant (2 AST)	10:48 [LAL 49-51]
Odom Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	10:27
	10:27 [HOU 52-49]	Battier Free Throw 1 of 2 (9 PTS)
	10:27 [HOU 53-49]	Battier Free Throw 2 of 2 (10 PTS)
Bryant Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed	10:14
	10:12	Hayes Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)
	10:04	Scola Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO)
Odom Hook Shot: Missed	09:49
	09:47	Ariza Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)
	09:37 [HOU 55-49]	Scola Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Brooks (3 AST)
	09:23	Hayes Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Odom Free Throw 1 of 2 (4 PTS)	09:23 [LAL 50-55]
Odom Free Throw 2 of 2 (5 PTS)	09:23 [LAL 51-55]
	09:06	Hayes Turnover : Step Out of Bounds Turnover (1 TO)
Odom Jump Shot: Made (7 PTS)	08:49 [LAL 53-55]
	08:26	Odom Violation:Kicked Ball
	08:12	Ariza 3pt Shot: Missed
	08:11	Hayes Rebound (Off:2 Def:5)
	08:03	Brooks 3pt Shot: Missed
Bynum Rebound (Off:3 Def:4)	08:02
Bryant Layup Shot: Missed Block: Battier (1 BLK)	07:53
	07:53	Hayes Rebound (Off:2 Def:6)
Bryant Technical	07:53
	07:53 [HOU 56-53]	Brooks Free Throw Technical (6 PTS)
	07:37	Battier 3pt Shot: Missed
	07:35	Battier Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)
Fisher Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	07:34
	07:34 [HOU 57-53]	Scola Free Throw 1 of 2 (11 PTS)
	07:34 [HOU 58-53]	Scola Free Throw 2 of 2 (12 PTS)
Artest Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Bynum (4 AST)	07:20 [LAL 55-58]
	07:02	Scola Foul : Offensive (3 PF)
	07:02	Scola Turnover : Foul (3 TO)
Odom Layup Shot: Made (9 PTS)	06:52 [LAL 57-58]
	06:52	Hayes Foul : Shooting (3 PF)
Odom Free Throw 1 of 1 (10 PTS)	06:52 [LAL 58-58]
	06:36 [HOU 60-58]	Ariza Layup Shot: Made (8 PTS)
Odom Layup Shot: Missed	06:18
Artest Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)	06:17
Bynum Turnover : 3 Second Violation (2 TO)	06:08
	05:55	Ariza Jump Shot: Missed
Bynum Rebound (Off:3 Def:5)	05:54
Odom Hook Shot: Missed	05:41
Bynum Rebound (Off:4 Def:5)	05:39
Bynum Tip Shot: Missed	05:39
	05:37	Scola Rebound (Off:1 Def:7)
	05:33 [HOU 63-58]	Brooks 3pt Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Ariza (3 AST)
Bryant Turnaround Fade Away shot: Made (21 PTS)	05:19 [LAL 60-63]
Bynum Foul : Defense 3 Second (3 PF)	05:11
	05:11	Team Timeout : Regular
	05:11 [HOU 64-60]	Brooks Free Throw Technical (10 PTS)
Fisher Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	05:01
	05:01	Brooks Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	05:01	Team Rebound
	05:01	Brooks Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Odom Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	05:01
Artest Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)	04:44
	04:24	Ariza 3pt Shot: Missed
	04:23	Hayes Rebound (Off:3 Def:6)
	04:09	Brooks Turnover : Lost Ball (4 TO) Steal:Odom (2 ST)
Fisher Layup Shot: Missed	04:04
Bynum Rebound (Off:5 Def:5)	04:03
Bynum Putback Layup Shot: Made (12 PTS)	04:03 [LAL 62-64]
	03:54	Brooks Turnover : Bad Pass (5 TO) Steal:Artest (1 ST)
Bryant Jump Shot: Made (23 PTS)	03:42 [LAL 64-64]
	03:28 [HOU 66-64]	Scola Reverse Layup Shot: Made (14 PTS)
Artest 3pt Shot: Missed	03:05
	03:03	Ariza Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)
Team Timeout : Regular	02:56
	02:56	Scola Substitution replaced by Lowry
	02:56	Brooks Substitution replaced by Landry
Artest Substitution replaced by Walton	02:56
Fisher Substitution replaced by Farmar	02:56
	02:46	Battier 3pt Shot: Missed
Bynum Rebound (Off:5 Def:6)	02:45
Farmar 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Bynum (5 AST)	02:26 [LAL 67-66]
Farmar Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	02:20
	02:20 [HOU 67-67]	Ariza Free Throw 1 of 2 (9 PTS)
	02:20	Ariza Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Bynum Rebound (Off:5 Def:7)	02:20
Walton Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Odom (2 AST)	02:00 [LAL 69-67]
	01:52 [HOU 70-69]	Ariza 3pt Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Lowry (1 AST)
Walton Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Hayes (2 ST)	01:29
	01:18 [HOU 72-69]	Hayes Layup Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Ariza (4 AST)
Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed	01:01
Farmar Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)	00:59.9
Odom Jump Shot: Made (12 PTS)	00:48.1 [LAL 71-72]
	00:31.8	Ariza Turnover : Traveling (1 TO)
Bynum Substitution replaced by Vujacic	00:31.8
	00:31.8	Hayes Substitution replaced by Brooks
Bryant Driving Layup Shot: Made (25 PTS)	00:14.5 [LAL 73-72]
	00:00.2 [HOU 74-73]	Lowry Running Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS)
End of 3rd Quarter
Los Angeles Lakers (28-6)		Houston Rockets (20-15)
Start of 4th QuarterBack to Top
Walton Jump Shot: Missed	11:44
	11:43	Landry Rebound (Off:3 Def:4)
	11:35 [HOU 76-73]	Scola Layup Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Lowry (2 AST)
Farmar Pullup Jump shot: Missed	11:15
	11:13	Ariza Rebound (Off:1 Def:6)
	11:09	Brooks 3pt Shot: Missed
Mbenga Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	11:07
	10:51	Lowry Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Mbenga Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	10:51
Team Rebound	10:51
Mbenga Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	10:51
	10:51	Scola Rebound (Off:1 Def:8)
	10:42 [HOU 78-73]	Lowry Driving Layup Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Brooks (4 AST)
Artest 3pt Shot: Missed	10:23
	10:22	Scola Rebound (Off:1 Def:9)
	10:16 [HOU 80-73]	Landry Layup Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Lowry (3 AST)
Team Timeout : Regular	10:14
Walton Substitution replaced by Bynum	10:14
Mbenga Substitution replaced by Bryant	10:14
	10:14	Brooks Substitution replaced by Battier
Bynum Jump Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Farmar (2 AST)	10:02 [LAL 75-80]
	10:02	Battier Foul : Shooting (3 PF)
Bynum Free Throw 1 of 1 Missed	10:02
	10:02	Scola Rebound (Off:1 Def:10)
	09:49	Landry Layup Shot: Missed Block: Bynum (2 BLK)
Artest Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)	09:46
Farmar Jump Shot: Made (5 PTS)	09:41 [LAL 77-80]
Farmar Foul : Personal (4 PF)	09:30
	09:30	Scola Substitution replaced by Hayes
	09:30	Ariza Substitution replaced by Brooks
	09:14	Brooks 3pt Shot: Missed
Brown Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	09:13
Bynum Turnaround Hook Shot: Missed	09:01
	08:59	Hayes Rebound (Off:3 Def:7)
	08:47 [HOU 82-77]	Landry Pullup Jump shot: Made (18 PTS)
Artest Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Bryant (3 AST)	08:27 [LAL 79-82]
	08:06	Lowry 3pt Shot: Missed
	08:05	Battier Rebound (Off:3 Def:1)
	08:05 [HOU 84-79]	Battier Tip Shot: Made (12 PTS)
Brown 3pt Shot: Missed	07:46
	07:45	Landry Rebound (Off:3 Def:5)
	07:26	Lowry Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Bryant (3 ST)
Bryant Pullup Jump shot: Made (27 PTS) Assist: Farmar (3 AST)	07:12 [LAL 81-84]
	06:48	Hayes Hook Shot: Missed
Farmar Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)	06:47
Brown Foul : Offensive (2 PF)	06:35
Brown Turnover : Foul (1 TO)	06:35
	06:11	Brooks Turnover : Traveling (6 TO)
	06:11	Team Timeout : Regular
	06:11	Brooks Substitution replaced by Ariza
	06:11	Landry Substitution replaced by Scola
Farmar Substitution replaced by Odom	06:11
Brown Substitution replaced by Fisher	06:11
Bynum Turnover : Traveling (3 TO)	05:58
	05:42	Ariza Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Fisher (1 ST)
	05:42	Ariza Foul : Loose Ball (3 PF)
Bryant Turnaround Fade Away shot: Missed	05:20
	05:18	Hayes Rebound (Off:3 Def:8)
	05:09	Ariza Layup Shot: Missed
Bynum Rebound (Off:5 Def:8)	05:07
Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed	04:44
Odom Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)	04:43
Bynum Foul : Offensive (4 PF)	04:30
Bynum Turnover : Foul (4 TO)	04:30
	04:09	Scola Hook Shot: Missed
Bynum Rebound (Off:5 Def:9)	04:07
Bryant Layup Shot: Made (29 PTS)	03:50 [LAL 83-84]
	03:37 [HOU 86-83]	Hayes Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Scola (2 AST)
Fisher 3pt Shot: Missed	03:19
	03:18	Battier Rebound (Off:3 Def:2)
	03:00	Lowry Substitution replaced by Brooks
	02:55	Battier 3pt Shot: Missed
Artest Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)	02:54
Bryant Turnaround Fade Away shot: Made (31 PTS)	02:41 [LAL 85-86]
	02:29	Timeout : Regular
	02:15	Scola Driving Layup Shot: Missed
Bynum Rebound (Off:5 Def:10)	02:13
Artest Pullup Jump shot: Missed	01:53
	01:51	Hayes Rebound (Off:3 Def:9)
	01:33 [HOU 89-85]	Brooks 3pt Shot: Made (13 PTS)
	01:22	Scola Foul : Shooting (4 PF)
Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (32 PTS)	01:22 [LAL 86-89]
Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (33 PTS)	01:22 [LAL 87-89]
	01:05	Brooks Turnover : Bad Pass (7 TO) Steal:Bynum (1 ST)
	01:02	Hayes Foul : Shooting (4 PF)
Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (34 PTS)	01:02 [LAL 88-89]
Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (35 PTS)	01:02 [LAL 89-89]
	00:43.9	Scola Jump Shot: Missed
	00:42.9	Hayes Rebound (Off:4 Def:9)
	00:39.8	Hayes Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Bryant (4 ST)
Artest 3pt Shot: Made (15 PTS) Assist: Bryant (4 AST)	00:30.0 [LAL 92-89]
	00:30.0	Team Timeout : Regular
	00:30.0	Hayes Substitution replaced by Landry
	00:19.6	Jump Ball Ariza vs Fisher (Landry gains possession)
	00:14.2 [HOU 92-92]	Ariza 3pt Shot: Made (15 PTS) Assist: Landry (1 AST)
Team Timeout : Regular	00:14.2
	00:14.2	Landry Substitution replaced by Hayes
Team Timeout : Short	00:00.7
Instant Replay - Support Ruling	00:00.0
End of 4th Quarter
Los Angeles Lakers (28-6)		Houston Rockets (20-15)
Start of 1st OvertimeBack to Top
(05:00) Jump Ball Scola vs Bynum (Odom gains possession)
Artest Layup Shot: Missed	04:49
	04:48	Scola Rebound (Off:1 Def:11)
	04:43	Brooks Reverse Layup Shot: Missed
	04:40	Ariza Rebound (Off:2 Def:6)
	04:39	Ariza Layup Shot: Missed Block: Bynum (3 BLK)
	04:37	Ariza Rebound (Off:3 Def:6)
Odom Foul : Shooting (4 PF)	04:31
	04:31 [HOU 93-92]	Battier Free Throw 1 of 2 (13 PTS)
	04:31 [HOU 94-92]	Battier Free Throw 2 of 2 (14 PTS)
Bryant Jump Shot: Missed	04:20
	04:18	Brooks Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	04:03	Ariza Jump Shot: Missed
	04:01	Scola Rebound (Off:2 Def:11)
	03:58	Brooks 3pt Shot: Missed
Artest Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)	03:57
Bryant Layup Shot: Missed	03:43
Odom Rebound (Off:3 Def:4)	03:42
Odom Tip Shot: Made (14 PTS)	03:42 [LAL 94-94]
	03:25	Scola Hook Bank Shot: Missed
Bryant Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)	03:23
	03:06	Brooks Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	03:06
Team Rebound	03:06
Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (36 PTS)	03:06 [LAL 95-94]
	02:49	Scola Jump Shot: Missed
	02:49	Hayes Rebound (Off:5 Def:9)
	02:49	Battier 3pt Shot: Missed
	02:49	Team Rebound
	02:49	Jump Ball Hayes vs Artest (Scola gains possession)
	02:36 [HOU 96-95]	Hayes Layup Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Ariza (5 AST)
	02:18	Scola Foul : Personal (5 PF)
Team Timeout : Regular	02:18
Bryant Turnaround Fade Away shot: Made (38 PTS)	02:07 [LAL 97-96]
	01:55 [HOU 98-97]	Hayes Reverse Layup Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Brooks (5 AST)
Artest 3pt Shot: Missed	01:37
Team Rebound	01:36
Bryant Pullup Jump shot: Made (40 PTS)	01:30 [LAL 99-98]
	01:30	Scola Foul : Shooting (6 PF)
	01:30	Scola Substitution replaced by Landry
Bryant Free Throw 1 of 1 (41 PTS)	01:30 [LAL 100-98]
	01:16	Ariza Jump Shot: Missed
	01:15	Team Rebound
	01:15	Instant Replay - Overturn Ruling
	01:06 [HOU 100-100]	Brooks Driving Layup Shot: Made (15 PTS)
Bryant Turnaround Fade Away shot: Missed	00:47.9
Bynum Rebound (Off:6 Def:10)	00:45.6
Bynum Layup Shot: Missed	00:44.6
Bynum Rebound (Off:7 Def:10)	00:44.2
	00:44.2	Hayes Foul : Shooting (5 PF)
Bynum Free Throw 1 of 2 (15 PTS)	00:44.2 [LAL 101-100]
Bynum Free Throw 2 of 2 (16 PTS)	00:44.2 [LAL 102-100]
	00:44.2	Team Timeout : Regular
	00:37.3 [HOU 102-102]	Landry Hook Shot: Made (20 PTS) Assist: Brooks (6 AST)
	00:24.7	Hayes Foul : Shooting (6 PF)
	00:24.7	Hayes Substitution replaced by Cook
Bynum Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	00:24.7
Team Rebound	00:24.7
Bynum Free Throw 2 of 2 (17 PTS)	00:24.7 [LAL 103-102]
	00:24.7	Team Timeout : Short
	00:24.7	Cook Substitution replaced by Lowry
Bynum Substitution replaced by Brown	00:24.7
Odom Foul : Personal (5 PF)	00:13.0
	00:00.9	Ariza Turnover : Lost Ball (3 TO) Steal:Fisher (2 ST)
End of 1st Overtime

broadcast information
country		channel			time
usa		--	FSH	Local	Final
		--	KCAL-LAL	Local	Final