Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant help Los Angeles Lakers cruise past Houston Rockets – NBA Recap
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 119-108 in a high scoring game on Sunday night here at the Staples Center. The Lakers were up and running from the get go, scoring 40 points in the first period alone. Dwight
Howard led the Lakers from the front, scoring a game high 28 points and 13 rebounds, going 11 of 18 from the field. Kobe Bryant recorded a triple double, scoring 22 points 11 rebounds and 11 assists on the night. Chandler Parsons scored a team high 24 points
and for the Houston Rockets, going 8 of 10 from the field and an almost perfect 4 of 5 from the three point line. James Harden added 20 points and 7 assists to the Rockets tally.
The Rockets started the period hot from three point range, with Chandler Parsons scoring two three pointers within a minute and James Harden later getting into the action as well to score a three pointer and put the Rockets up
11-6. However, the Lakers had their own ideas in mind and a layup by Metta World Peace put them up 14-13. After Omer Asik hit a layup to put the Rockets up 25-24, the Lakers scored seven straight points that put them up 31-25. The Lakers then ended the period
on a 9-2 run and took a 40-29 lead into the second period.
Houston scored the first six points of the second period to cut into the Lakers lead and trail 35-40, but a three pointer by Antawn Jamison had the home team up 47-39 once again. Chris Duhon then hit a three pointer and the Lakers
were leading 50-41. Morris later scored a three pointer and followed with a reverse layup to keep the Lakers ahead of a charging Rockets roster, and the home team lead 68-60 at halftime.
Houston scored the first four points of the third period to trail 64-68, but World Peace replied with a three pointer to put the Lakers back up by 7. Los Angeles later went on a 12-0 run in the period, capped off by a layup by
Kobe Bryant to lead 85-69. The Rockets played catch up the rest of the period but a three pointer by Morris to close the period had the Lakers lead down to eleven points, as the Rockets trailed 87-98.
Jodie Meeks opened the final period for the Lakers with a three pointer, putting them up 101-87. This was the start of an 8-0 run by the home team, as the Rockets were unable to score for the first 3:21 of the period. The Lakers
maintained a comfortable lead throughout the period, with back to back dunks by Bryant and Howard putting them ahead 116-98. The team won 119-108 eventually.
Los Angeles scored 54.1 percent from the field and were an impressive 9 of 20 from the distance. Houston shot 48.9 percent from the field and were 9 of 23 from three point range.
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