NBA Scores Western Conference Semifinals: Kobe Bryant Paces Los Angeles Lakers Past Houston Rockets to Even Series

Kobe Bryant scored 40 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, Pau Gasol added 22 points and 14 boards and Lamar Odom finished with 7 points and pulled 11 off the glass as the Los Angeles Lakers came up big in the second half and knocked off the Houston Rockets 111-98 on Wednesday night to even their best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series at 1-1.

Houston hung with the Lakers in the first half of the opening frame as they trailed 18-14 after a Shane Battier three-pointer but LA went on a 13-2 run that put them in front 31-16 and it looked like the game was going to get away early. Heading into the second the Rockets trailed by 14 but they quickly cut that deficit to six after opening with a 12-4 run. Shannon Brown extended the Lakers lead to nine after hitting triple but the Rockets stayed aggressive and a 12-2 run gave them their first lead of the game 52-51. That lead was extended to four before Odom sank one of two from the free-throw line and then Kobe hit a three-pointer to end the half and even the score at 57-57.

Los Angeles came out in the third quarter with defensive pressure and that helped on the offensive end as they held the Rockets to just two field goals in the first five minutes while building a 73-62 lead. Houston cut their deficit to six after three-pointers from Ron Artest and Aaron Brooks but Kobe started a 7-0 spurt with a pair of free-throws to push the lead back up to 12 and they ended the frame in front 86-77. The Rockets were able to get as close as seven early in the fourth but the Lakers never allowed them to get any closer.

Los Angeles shot 50 percent from the floor and scored 23 of their points off turnovers while allowing the Rockets just 11 points off miscues.

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