Lakers 119 – Rockets 108 (final)
The Lakers had to go one last time without Coach Mike D’Antoni (knee), and the team won their fourth game in five tries with Bernie Bickerstaff at the helm.
Kobe Bryant notched his 18th career triple-double with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in what would be another high-scoring affair for the Lakers. The team shot a season-high 54.1% from the field, converting 9-20 from three-point range.
Pau Gasol scored his 15,000th career point. Darius Morris set a career high with 12. Antawn Jamison‘s eight was his best since joining the Lakers.
The Rockets were led by Chandler Parsons‘ 24 points. James Harden scored 20 in his first appearance against the Lakers since the playoffs (with the Oklahoma City Thunder). Houston shot 48.9% from the field and 39.1% from behind the arc.
Turnovers have been an issue for much of the season for the Lakers. On Sunday night they had 13 miscues, and forced the Rockets to cough up the ball 15 times.
The Lakers improve to 5-5, climbing into the eighth seed in the Western Conference. Houston drops to 4-6, currently in 12th place.
Lakers 98 – Rockets 87 (end of third quarter)
Pau Gasol reached the 15,000-point career milestone in the third quarter as he helped carry the Lakers offensive load.
The Rockets continued to shoot the ball well (54.5% from the field and 46.7% from three-point range) but the Lakers outpaced them at 60.3% and 46.7%. James Harden has 20 for Houston.
The Lakers surged ahead on a 10-0 run, extending the lead to 16 until Harden finally nailed a three-pointer. Metta World Peace has added to the team’s offensive attack with 15 points on the night.
Bryant had 18 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds through three quarters, just two boards away from a triple-double.
The Lakers had a reasonable nine turnovers, generally a bigger issue throughout the season. The Rockets had 11 turnovers.
Lakers 68 – Rockets 60 (halftime)
Kobe Bryant nearly notched a first-half triple-double, racking up 11 points, seven rebounds and nine assists in just 20 minutes of play against the Rockets.
Houston actually won the quarter, 31-28, on 54.2% shooting from the field. James Harden scored 14 first-half points and Chandler Parsons chipped in 12.
The Lakers had four starters in double-figures, led by Dwight Howard‘s 18, on 8-10 shooting.
With the top two point guards out (Steve Nash and Steve Blake), the Lakers got a perfect shooting half from Darius Morris (5-5), scoring a career high 12 points, and Chris Duhon (2-2).
The Lakers shot 67.4% from the field and 71.4% from three-point range. Neither team turned the ball over often, with five for L.A. and four for Houston.
