=== Los Angeles Lakers Team Report - November 14 === (My Sportsbook) - The Lakers defeated the Tracy McGrady-less Houston Rockets, 84-79, on Saturday night at the Toyota Center. Lamar Odom had 20 points and 13 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers gave head coach Rudy Tomjanovich a triumphant return to Houston. Tomjanovich spent 33 years in Houston as both a player and a coach, leading the Rockets to back-to-back NBA Championships in 1994 and '95 before having to resign in March 2003 upon being diagnosed with bladder cancer. He was honored during a pregame ceremony and given numerous standing ovations. Kobe Bryant added 19 points and 11 boards to help the Lakers snap a brief-two game skid, while Chucky Atkins finished with 10 points. Bryant netted the first nine points for Los Angeles out of the halftime gates to help extend a 12-point margin to 59-37 four minutes into the third period. Los Angeles was able to hold off Houston down the stretch. Houston shot 34.6 percent (27-of-78), while the Lakers were 29-for-71 (41 percent). The Lakers have their next three days off before hosting the Clippers at the Staples Center on Wednesday. |
