Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers, first half analysis
The Los Angeles Lakers host the Houston Rockets at Staples Centre, Los Angeles, CA.
The Lakers stepped into the game with a jumper from Ron Artest, assisted by Lamar Odom.
Odom reconciled after missing a three-pointer and Derek Fisher’s shooting foul pulled out two free throws for the Rockets, who were looking for a path to move out through.
Kevin Martin’s free throws sealed a tie between the teams at 2-2. Fisher had a hook bank shot that gave the Lakers a two-point lead again.
Both the teams chased each other coming to a tie four times in the opening of the game, but the Lakers were not going to let go of the lead easily. They attacked the Rockets with their full power, having a series of shots from Odom, Pau Gasol, Ron Artest
and Fisher to outscore Houston by seven points, 15-8.
Houston Rockets tried to break in scoring 15-17, but Artest’s three-pointer kept them away. Los Angeles clinched three 3-pointers in the first quarter and carried a 31-23 lead into the second one.
Second quarter
After Gasol missed a jumper, Courtney Lee got the rebound for the Rockets, but they ended up missing a 3-pointer from Chase Budinger. Steve Blake’s jumper produced a 10-point gap between the teams with 10:12 left for halftime.
Budinger succeeded in getting his 3-pointer shot as he received an assist from Chuck Hayes, to score 28-33. Artest faltered a little at that point and missed a three-pointer followed by a jumper missed by Gasol, at the 8:55 mark.
Gasol slam dunked through the floor, clicking a timely shot going 35-28. Kobe Bryant entered the game at the 7:22 mark, going straight for a floating jumper with an assist from Odom.
Bryant then sealed a turnaround jumper while Lee clinched a 3-pointer in between to score 31 for Houston. Bryant, at that point made a straight jump shot that was assisted by Blake. Hence, acquiring a ten-point lead over the faltering Rockets again, 41-31.
Aaron Brooks jumped in for the Houston Rockets’ defence and posted three shots that also included a three-pointer, 43-47, and closed in on the Lakers. Devin Ebanks committed a shooting foul that gave three free throws to the Rockets, who reached the 48-49
mark, as Martin sealed all three of them.
Gasol’s dunk shot edged the Lakers over the Rockets, and Los Angeles carried a 54-48 lead into the locker room.
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