Lakers roll past rockets to take lead

In the NBA playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets in game 3 to take a 2-games-to-1 lead in their second round Western Conference series.

KobeBryant(right)andSashaVujacicoftheLos
AngelesLakerscelebrateathree-pointshotatthe
endofthe3rdquarteragainsttheHoustonRockets
inGameThreeoftheWesternConferenceSemifinals
duringthe2009NBAPlayoffsatToyotaCenter,in
Houston,Texas.TheLakerswon108-94totakea2-1
serieslead.(AFP/GettyImages/RonaldMartinez)

Early in the first quarter, Kobe Bryant knocked down this jumper, putting Lakers ahead by 7.Lakers 11-4. In the second quarter, less than two minutes to go off, Yao Ming drew a right hand hook to tie the game. Rockets 26-26 Lakers.

Seconds before halftime, Yao tipped in a missed three pointer by Aaron Brooks, keeping Rockets in contention, Lakers 50-48 Rockets at half time. 3 seconds to go, Bryant nailed a long-range three pointer at the buzzer, up by 12, Lakers 74-62.

With 1 minute 30 seconds before end, Bryant beautiful drive-in, his lay-up missed, Lamar Odom dunked the rebound decisive score in the fourth quarter. Final Score: 108-94