Rockets Win Game 1 in LA
Surprise. Surprise. So much for the Lakers sweeping the Rockets in the 2009 NBA Playoffs.
The Houston Rockets defeated the Lakers 100 to 92 in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals to shock a large part of the NBA world!
Yao Ming scored a team-high 28 points and pulled down 10 rebounds and shook off a banged up right knee to return to the ball game and helped lead the Rockets to the victory.
Ron Artest set the tone early for the Rockets in the first quarter with a baseline drive and a left-handed slam dunk over Trevor Ariza and Pau Gasol. Artest scored seven points in the first quarter and the Rockets led 21 to 18 at the end of the first period.
Artest finished the game with 21 points on 8 for 15 shooting from the field (3 for 6 on threes, much better number of three-point attempts).
The Lakers' bench sped up the tempo early in the second quarter; but, a three-point bucket by Rockets' guard Brent Barry gave the Rockets a 34 to 26 lead. The Lakers closed the second quarter with a 14 to 9 burst to trail the Rockets 43 to 40 at halftime.
The third quarter was fast-paced which would seem to favor the Lakers; however, Aaron Brooks' quickness and scoring ability baffled the Lakers and enabled the Rockets to match the Lakers point for point in the third quarter. Each team scored 27 points in the period. Brooks scored nine points in the third; and, when he was finishing with driving lay-ups at the basket, Brooks was blowing past Derek Fisher and breaking down the Lakers' defense.
Lakers' back up guard Shannon Brown capped off a 10 to 6 Lakers' run to start the fourth period which put the Rockets behind L.A. 77 to 76 with 8:19 left in the ball game.
Ron Artest said no problem, Rockets' fans.
Artest scored an "And 1" with a jump shot and a free throw after being fouled by Lakers' guard Sasha Vujacic. Artest's three-point play put the Rockets back in front 79 to 77 and the Lakers never led the rest of the ball game.
Yao Ming followed a missed jump shot by Kobe Bryant with a jumper to put the Rockets up by four.
After two more bricked free throws by Lamar Odom (1 for 6 from the foul line in the game), Aaron Brooks made a running jump shot to give the Rockets an 83 to 77 lead with 6:14 remaining in the game. Brooks scored yet another driving layp to cap off a 9 to 0 Rockets' run and put Houston ahead 85 to 77 with 5:19 on the game clock.
Pau Gasol ended the Lakers' drought with a slam dunk. Gasol was open for the dunk because Yao Ming was on the court screaming in pain after Kobe Bryant banged into Yao's right knee on an attempted drive to the basket. Yao lay on the court for a few minutes before limping to the lockerroom area; however, the big fella convinced Keith Jones, Rockets' athletic trainer, he felt good enough to return to the bench and check back in the game.
The Lakers trimmed Houston's lead to 85 - 81; but, after returning to the ball game, Yao drained a long jump shot to give the Rockets a six point lead which seemed to zap the life out of the Lakers' team and their fans.
Game 1 to the Rockets.
Kobe Bryant scored 32 points on 14 for 31 shooting from the field. Bryant settled for jump shots until the game was over. Bryant attempted just five free throws and four of those attempts came in the final two minutes of the game.
Pau Gasol chipped in with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
The Lakers shot a woeful 2 for 18 from three-point range in the game. The Rockets shot 25 for 29 (86.2%)from the foul line compared to just 12 for 19 (63.2%) for the Lakers.
Game 2 is set for Wednesday night in LA. Tip is set for 9:30 p.m. CDT.
Tonight's win by the Rockets just made this semifinal series a LOT more interesting.
The Houston Rockets defeated the Lakers 100 to 92 in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals to shock a large part of the NBA world!
Yao Ming scored a team-high 28 points and pulled down 10 rebounds and shook off a banged up right knee to return to the ball game and helped lead the Rockets to the victory.
Ron Artest set the tone early for the Rockets in the first quarter with a baseline drive and a left-handed slam dunk over Trevor Ariza and Pau Gasol. Artest scored seven points in the first quarter and the Rockets led 21 to 18 at the end of the first period.
Artest finished the game with 21 points on 8 for 15 shooting from the field (3 for 6 on threes, much better number of three-point attempts).
The Lakers' bench sped up the tempo early in the second quarter; but, a three-point bucket by Rockets' guard Brent Barry gave the Rockets a 34 to 26 lead. The Lakers closed the second quarter with a 14 to 9 burst to trail the Rockets 43 to 40 at halftime.
The third quarter was fast-paced which would seem to favor the Lakers; however, Aaron Brooks' quickness and scoring ability baffled the Lakers and enabled the Rockets to match the Lakers point for point in the third quarter. Each team scored 27 points in the period. Brooks scored nine points in the third; and, when he was finishing with driving lay-ups at the basket, Brooks was blowing past Derek Fisher and breaking down the Lakers' defense.
Lakers' back up guard Shannon Brown capped off a 10 to 6 Lakers' run to start the fourth period which put the Rockets behind L.A. 77 to 76 with 8:19 left in the ball game.
Ron Artest said no problem, Rockets' fans.
Artest scored an "And 1" with a jump shot and a free throw after being fouled by Lakers' guard Sasha Vujacic. Artest's three-point play put the Rockets back in front 79 to 77 and the Lakers never led the rest of the ball game.
Yao Ming followed a missed jump shot by Kobe Bryant with a jumper to put the Rockets up by four.
After two more bricked free throws by Lamar Odom (1 for 6 from the foul line in the game), Aaron Brooks made a running jump shot to give the Rockets an 83 to 77 lead with 6:14 remaining in the game. Brooks scored yet another driving layp to cap off a 9 to 0 Rockets' run and put Houston ahead 85 to 77 with 5:19 on the game clock.
Pau Gasol ended the Lakers' drought with a slam dunk. Gasol was open for the dunk because Yao Ming was on the court screaming in pain after Kobe Bryant banged into Yao's right knee on an attempted drive to the basket. Yao lay on the court for a few minutes before limping to the lockerroom area; however, the big fella convinced Keith Jones, Rockets' athletic trainer, he felt good enough to return to the bench and check back in the game.
The Lakers trimmed Houston's lead to 85 - 81; but, after returning to the ball game, Yao drained a long jump shot to give the Rockets a six point lead which seemed to zap the life out of the Lakers' team and their fans.
Game 1 to the Rockets.
Kobe Bryant scored 32 points on 14 for 31 shooting from the field. Bryant settled for jump shots until the game was over. Bryant attempted just five free throws and four of those attempts came in the final two minutes of the game.
Pau Gasol chipped in with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
The Lakers shot a woeful 2 for 18 from three-point range in the game. The Rockets shot 25 for 29 (86.2%)from the foul line compared to just 12 for 19 (63.2%) for the Lakers.
Game 2 is set for Wednesday night in LA. Tip is set for 9:30 p.m. CDT.
Tonight's win by the Rockets just made this semifinal series a LOT more interesting.
posted by Kris Gardner @ 11:59 PM
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