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

Rockets outmuscle Lakers 100-92 in series opener

Yao Ming, who briefly left with a knee injury in the closing minutes, had 28 points and 10 rebounds, to lead the Houston Rockets to a physical 100-92 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.

HoustonRocketscenterYaoMing,ofChina,right,blocks
ashotbyLosAngelesLakerscenterPauGasol,ofSpain,
inthesecondhalfduringGame1ofasecond-roundNBA
playoffseriesinLosAngeles,Monday,May4,2009.The
HoustonRocketswon100-92.(APPhoto/ChrisCarlson)

Ron Artest added 21 points and Aaron Brooks had 19 for the Rockets.

Kobe Bryant, who finished a distant second to LeBron James in NBA MVP voting announced earlier on Monday, scored 32 points, doing his best to keep the Lakers in the game despite missing practice on Sunday with a sore throat.

Houston forward Shane Battier needed four stitches to close a gash over his left eye late in the first quarter.

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NBA: Lakers beat Jazz 125-112

The Los Angeles Lakers earned their 65th victory, beating the Utah Jazz 125-112. The Lakers will open the playoffs this weekend against the Jazz.

TheLosAngelesLakersearnedtheir65thvictory,beating
theUtahJazz125-112.

The Lakers' Andrew Bynum scored 22 points in his best effort since returning from injury. Pau Gasol added 20 points and nine rebounds. Lamar Odom had 16 points. Deron Williams collected 25 points and 13 assists for the Jazz, and reserve Andrei Kirilenko added 20 points.

The Lakers closed their regular season with their 6th straight home court win. They've already clinched the top seed in the West to secure home-court advantage throughout the conference finals.