Down a player, weary from a brutal Game 2, on the road in a tougher-than-expected Western Conference semifinal series, the Lakers responded the only way they knew how.
The Lakers showed resolve, taking back home-court advantage they had given up with a Game 1 loss at Staples Center by pulling out a 108-94 victory over the Houston Rockets in Game 3 of the best-of-seven series Friday night at the Toyota Center.It took a strong defensive effort and it took all five starters to score in double figures for the Lakers to win and take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Game 4 will be here Sunday, giving the Lakers another opportunity to push their lead in the series and push their winning streak to three in a row over the Rockets here this season, including two regular-season victories.
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers, scoring 33 points and grabbing six rebounds.Bryant moved past Larry Bird for sixth place on the NBA's all-time playoff scoring list with 3,928 points.
Jordan Farmar started at point guard in place of Derek Fisher, who was suspended one game for striking Houston's Luis Scola during Game 2 Wednesday night at Staples Center. Fisher will play in Game 4.
Farmar had 12 points, seven assists, five rebounds, two steals, one blocked shot and only one turnover in 33 minutes.
Lamar Odom had a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Ron Artest led the Rockets with 25 points, but he was 10 for 23 from the field.
Yao Ming had 19 points and 14 rebounds.
There was a moment when the game could have turned ugly, but cooler heads prevailed.
Von Wafer pumped faked Sasha Vujacic while shooting a three-pointer, forcing Vujacic to come down on his head and knocking Wafer to the court.
Both teams ran over to make sure nothing broke out, and it didn't.
Referee Steve Javie looked at the replay to make sure Wafer was behind the three-point line.
Wafer was, giving him three free throws, of which he made all of them to pull the Rockets to within 10 points early in the fourth.
There were 43.6 seconds left when the game turn somewhat ugly.
Artest was called for a flagrant foul-2 for a hard foul on Pau Gasol as he was going in for a layup.
Artest pleaded his case, but he was ejected from the game.The Lakers picked up their defensive play in the third quarter, making the Rockets work hard for their points.
But the highlight of the third was Bryant drilling a 33-foot three-pointer over Ron Artest, the ball settling into the net as time expired, giving the Lakers a 74-62 lead entering the fourth quarter.Bryant, who had 21 points through three quarters, stood at half court and posed.
The Lakers held the Rockets to 14 points in the third quarter.
There was Farmar, who started in place of the suspended Derek Fisher, stealing the ball from Aaron Brooks and coininually keeping the quick point guard from penetrating. There was Trevor Ariza taking a charge on Artest, who tried to bull his way to the basket.
By the halfway point of the third quarter, the Lakers had extended their two-point halftime lead to 62-54, forcing the Rockets to call a timeout.
The Lakers opened the quarter making four of seven shots, two of four three-pointers.
A quick burst by the Lakers at the end of the second quarter helped them open a 50-48 lead at halftime over the Rockets.
The Lakers trailed by one point, but two free throws by Jordan Farmar and a jumper and three-pointer by Luke Walton pushed the Lakers ahead by four points, 50-46.
Yao Ming, who had 14 points and six rebounds in the first half, tipped in a basket to pull the Rockets to within two points at halftime.
With 9:29 left in the second quarter, Lamar Odom was hit with his second foul for charging into Kyle Lowry. Odom was forced to take a seat on the bench.
Odom picked up his third foul with 5:25 left in the half for going over the back of Carl Landry. Odom stood stoned faced along the baseline under the basket.
The first technical foul of the game was called against Walton midway through the second quarter for kicking the basketball.
Lakers Coach Phil Jackson leaped out of his seat and asked referee Sean Corbin why Walton was called for a technical.
"He kicked the ball," Corbin responded.
Walton had just knocked down Lowry trying to get a steal. He then innocently kicked the basketball and was shocked when the technical was called.
Farmar walked up to the scorer's table, put some rosin powder on his hands, smiled and announced: "I'm back, baby."
The Lakers showed resolve, taking back home-court advantage they had given up with a Game 1 loss at Staples Center by pulling out a 108-94 victory over the Houston Rockets in Game 3 of the best-of-seven series Friday night at the Toyota Center.It took a strong defensive effort and it took all five starters to score in double figures for the Lakers to win and take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Game 4 will be here Sunday, giving the Lakers another opportunity to push their lead in the series and push their winning streak to three in a row over the Rockets here this season, including two regular-season victories.
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers, scoring 33 points and grabbing six rebounds.Bryant moved past Larry Bird for sixth place on the NBA's all-time playoff scoring list with 3,928 points.
Jordan Farmar started at point guard in place of Derek Fisher, who was suspended one game for striking Houston's Luis Scola during Game 2 Wednesday night at Staples Center. Fisher will play in Game 4.
Farmar had 12 points, seven assists, five rebounds, two steals, one blocked shot and only one turnover in 33 minutes.
Lamar Odom had a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Ron Artest led the Rockets with 25 points, but he was 10 for 23 from the field.
Yao Ming had 19 points and 14 rebounds.
There was a moment when the game could have turned ugly, but cooler heads prevailed.
Von Wafer pumped faked Sasha Vujacic while shooting a three-pointer, forcing Vujacic to come down on his head and knocking Wafer to the court.
Both teams ran over to make sure nothing broke out, and it didn't.
Referee Steve Javie looked at the replay to make sure Wafer was behind the three-point line.
Wafer was, giving him three free throws, of which he made all of them to pull the Rockets to within 10 points early in the fourth.
There were 43.6 seconds left when the game turn somewhat ugly.
Artest was called for a flagrant foul-2 for a hard foul on Pau Gasol as he was going in for a layup.
Artest pleaded his case, but he was ejected from the game.The Lakers picked up their defensive play in the third quarter, making the Rockets work hard for their points.
But the highlight of the third was Bryant drilling a 33-foot three-pointer over Ron Artest, the ball settling into the net as time expired, giving the Lakers a 74-62 lead entering the fourth quarter.Bryant, who had 21 points through three quarters, stood at half court and posed.
The Lakers held the Rockets to 14 points in the third quarter.
There was Farmar, who started in place of the suspended Derek Fisher, stealing the ball from Aaron Brooks and coininually keeping the quick point guard from penetrating. There was Trevor Ariza taking a charge on Artest, who tried to bull his way to the basket.
By the halfway point of the third quarter, the Lakers had extended their two-point halftime lead to 62-54, forcing the Rockets to call a timeout.
The Lakers opened the quarter making four of seven shots, two of four three-pointers.
A quick burst by the Lakers at the end of the second quarter helped them open a 50-48 lead at halftime over the Rockets.
The Lakers trailed by one point, but two free throws by Jordan Farmar and a jumper and three-pointer by Luke Walton pushed the Lakers ahead by four points, 50-46.
Yao Ming, who had 14 points and six rebounds in the first half, tipped in a basket to pull the Rockets to within two points at halftime.
With 9:29 left in the second quarter, Lamar Odom was hit with his second foul for charging into Kyle Lowry. Odom was forced to take a seat on the bench.
Odom picked up his third foul with 5:25 left in the half for going over the back of Carl Landry. Odom stood stoned faced along the baseline under the basket.
The first technical foul of the game was called against Walton midway through the second quarter for kicking the basketball.
Lakers Coach Phil Jackson leaped out of his seat and asked referee Sean Corbin why Walton was called for a technical.
"He kicked the ball," Corbin responded.
Walton had just knocked down Lowry trying to get a steal. He then innocently kicked the basketball and was shocked when the technical was called.
Farmar walked up to the scorer's table, put some rosin powder on his hands, smiled and announced: "I'm back, baby."
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