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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
HOUSTON (AP) -- Kobe Bryant thought it might have been the game
of his life.
"This is probably my most efficient game," he said Thursday
night after scoring 45 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers over
the Houston Rockets 99-94 for their fourth straight win.
|  | | Shaquille O'Neal had 25 points and 12 rebounds during Thursday night's victory. |
He made 20 of 26 shots, and the points were his most in a
non-overtime game. Bryant, who scored a season-high 51 points
against Golden State in a 125-122 overtime loss on Dec. 6, had 26
points in the first half alone, making his first 10 shots.
He added six points in the third quarter and 13 in the fourth.
"I think it's the highest percentage I've ever shot since being
in the league," he said. "I felt very good and I felt in rhythm.
My legs felt good and my follow-through was there on my shot."
A day away from practice Wednesday helped Bryant's legs.
"I felt more fresh tonight," he said. "All I did yesterday
was sleep. I only had one meal. I just tried to relax."
Lakers coach Phil Jackson is getting accustomed to such
performances. It was the fourth time this season Bryant has scored
40 or more points.
"Kobe had a great night," Jackson said. "Last night, there
were four or five players who got over 40 points in the league, so
it's not like he's the only one doing it. But in our offensive
system, he's the lead guard, which makes him the starting point of
our offense.
"I thought his offensive rebounding and his defense were very
good tonight. Right now his game is as good as anyone in the
league."
Shaquille O'Neal, who scored 25 points and had 12 rebounds,
agreed.
"Kobe had a phenomenal game," he said. "He made all kinds of
shots out there. We're going to get the bulk of the shots. Our
offense is not a problem. We just have to play good defense."
The Rockets were impressed by Bryant's shooting.
"It's kind of tough to beat a team when their star player goes
20 for 26," Steve Francis said. "He had a great game. He shot the
ball well and he got some calls. My hat goes off to him."
Coach Rudy Tomjanovich seconded that opinion.
"Kobe Bryant was just too much," he said. "He was amazing. A
play that typified it came in the fourth quarter when he was on a
break and we had two guys back on him. He still scored and got
fouled. He hurt us from the outside and the inside."
Maurice Taylor led the Rockets with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Hakeem Olajuwon had 16 points, Steve Francis 14, Walt Williams 13,
Moochie Norris 12 and Cuttino Mobley 11 as the Rockets lost their
third straight.
The Lakers broke from a 74-all tie and took an 82-78 with 7:34
left on an alley-oop slam by Bryant. But the Rockets came back to
lead 90-89 on a 3-pointer by Mobley and a jumper by Taylor with
4:21 to go.
The Rockets strategy then became to send O'Neal to the free
throw line over and over. O'Neal made 1 of 2 free throws to make it
90-all with 3:19 to play and repeated the feat for a 91-90 lead
with 2:52 left.
He again hit 1 of 2 with 2:26 to play for a 92-90 lead. Bryant's
jumper with 1:35 remaining stretched it to 94-90.
Olajuwon tipped in a basket with 1:10 left to close it to 94-92
but O'Neal again hit 1 of 2 free throws for a 95-92 lead with 52
seconds remaining. O'Neal finished 7-for-22 from the line.
Bryant made a jumper from the top of the key with 26 seconds to
play and a breakaway slam with 11 seconds left.
The teams traded baskets for the first four minutes of the game
before the Lakers pulled ahead 17-12, with Bryant scoring 11
points. He had 18 by the end of the quarter as the Lakers led
28-26.
O'Neal scored eight points in the first 6½ minutes of the second
quarter as the Lakers expanded their lead to 44-35. The lead
reached 48-38 with 4:47 left in the first half on a Bryant jumper.
But a 9-0 run by Houston, five of the points by Francis,
narrowed the gap. Los Angeles led 52-47 at halftime.
Houston went on a 14-0 run to take a 64-57 lead with 6:04 left
in the third. Fox scored 10 points the final six minutes of the
period.
Game
notes
Steve Francis returned after missing Tuesday's game against
the Spurs because of an ankle sprain. He reaggravated the injury
with 5:03 left in the third but returned to start the fourth
quarter. ... Francis is the only NBA player to average six rebounds
and six assists.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
LA Lakers Clubhouse
Houston Clubhouse
RECAPS
Orlando 99
Chicago 88
Milwaukee 80
New Jersey 78
Boston 92
New York 86
LA Lakers 99
Houston 94
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Rudy Tomjanovich Official Site
Kobe Bryant Official Site
Rick Fox Official Site
Mark Madsen Official Site
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