Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers, second half analysis
The Los Angeles Lakers entered the third quarter with a six-point lead over the Houston Rockets at the end of the first half, 54-48.
Third quarter
Louis Scola clinched a jumper right at the beginning of the third quarter to score 50-54. Lamar Odom responded by pinning a three-pointer assisted by Kobe Bryant, going 57-50, over the Rockets.
Shane Battier’s three-pointer eased the Rockets a bit, but Bryant’s turnaround choked them a little more again, going 59-53. Battier and Scola combined for a hook shot that scored them 55 points. At 9:12, Kevin Martin committed a shooting foul that scored
the Lakers a free throw sealed by Bryant.
Houston almost snatched the lead when Martin clinched a jumper at the 8:17 mark. Soon after that, the scores were tied at 61-all after Odom got fouled and Martin grabbed two of the three free throws provided.
Houston Rockets earned a lead once again when Martin clinched a three-pointer, going 64-61. To chase the score, Bryant secured a running jump shot, 63-64.
The Rockets led until the 1:55 mark, until Odom’s three-pointer tied the scores at 72-all. Both the teams missed a series of shots in between and finally Gasol’s hook shot earned the Lakers a lead by two-points, 74-72. The third quarter ended with a tie
of scores on 74.
Fourth quarter
After sealing a tie at the end of the third quarter, the Lakers received two free throws after Chuck Hayes got fouled on his shooting.
Steve Blake clinched a three pointer assisted by Luke Walton sealing a two-point lead over the opposition. Chase Budinger shot a jumper to score 76 for the Houston Rockets.
A quick jumper by Shannon Brown followed by a driving layup by Odom, took the Lakers to 85-76 over Houston. The Rockets followed, Martin and Aaron Brooks clinched two three-pointers in a row, one coming from each of them, to tie the scores at 86-all.
Bryant and Odom attacked them with a series of shots, once again taking a six-point lead over the rivals.
The game ran into overtime as the scores were tied at 98-all as Louis Scola clinched a layup at the very last moment before the buzzer rang.
Overtime
A five-minute long overtime was given to the teams. The Lakers shot a running jumper to initialize the overtime with a two-point lead, 100-98.
Martin, Brooks and Scola clinched three shots in a row taking Houston 104-100, outscoring Los Angeles.
It was Gasol’s turn after that, the centre clinched three shots in a row, two of them free throws to tie the scores at 104-all. The Rockets experienced just one shot in between that came from Kyle Lowry. The Lakers went 100 per cent from the free throw line
to seal a 114-106 lead over the Houston Rockets.
Los Angeles Lakers win by eight points in overtime.
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