HOUSTON -- The way Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals was setting up, the Los Angeles Lakers seemed vulnerable to the Houston Rockets on Friday night.But fighting through adversity that included the one-game suspension of its starting point guard and coming into a hostile environment after the Rockets had stolen home court advantage, the Lakers reclaimed momentum in the series with an impressive 108-94 win at the Toyota Center. Los Angeles has now won two straight in the best-of-seven series to claim a 2-1 edge heading into Sunday's Game 4.
A win Sunday would all but deliver the series to the Lakers and quiet any chatter about the re-emergence of Clutch City in Houston.
Lakers Lead 2-1 | Next Game: Sunday @ Houston, 3:30 PM ET
"I wouldn't say it for this," Lakers forward Lamar Odom said when asked of any psychological edge gained by beating the Rockets on their home floor to reclaim home court advantage in the series. "I don't want to say anything that might fuel them."
The Lakers just simply sent their message on the floor Friday night with a gritty defensive performance and timely shooting. With Derek Fisher serving a one-game suspension for a flagrant foul in Game 2 and Kobe Bryant at times seeming to suffer the affects of not having his point guard on the floor, the Lakers still managed to do enough to keep the Rockets at arms length much of the first half.
Finally in the third quarter, the Lakers put some much needed distance between themselves and their turnover-prone counterparts. Los Angeles increased its lead to double-digits in the third period as Ron Artest and Yao Ming missed open shots and the Rockets turned it over (17 turnovers for the night).
"I think the shots didn't go in but we also didn't play," said Rockets forward Luis Scola. "We didn't like the way we played."
Said Lakers coach Phil Jackson: "They (Rockets) had trouble hitting shots. Our defense was okay. They got a little bit tired and winded and we got some breakaways and some open things on the floor, we got some turnovers and converted them."
Luke Walton, Shannon Brown, Trevor Ariza and Odom all hit timely shots while Bryant struggled through extended scoring lulls between the second and third quarters. Despite an off night in which he converted just 11-of-28 from the field after going 5-for-6 in the first quarter, Bryant finished with a hard-earned game-high 33 points.
But the most impressive and critical performance came from Jordan Farmar, who was called upon to fill the void left by Fisher.The former UCLA standout did himself and the Lakers proud in steady performance in which delivered seven assists, scored 12 points, grabbed five rebounds and committed just one turnovers in nearly 33 minutes. Not a bad night for a player who had been almost forgotten in Jackson's rotation in the last month.
"The only thing I was really concerned about out there is just controlling the tempo and making sure when we had momentum it was on our side, just keeping the game under control," Farmar said. "I wasn't worried about scoring or making shots or anything like that, it was about just playing and controlling the game as a point guard should and everything else worked itself out."
There was no surprise that Bryant dominated the ball early on, hitting five-of-six from the field in the first quarter. But as the Lakers' star struggled from the field in the second and third quarters, Farmar took more control of the Lakers offense and was successful in getting others involved.
Interestingly, Jackson was non-committal about increasing Farmar's minutes from near non-existence status after a stellar performance on both the offensive and defensive ends Friday night. Farmar was actually key in limiting the penetrations of Rockets speedy point guard Aaron Brooks, who had just seven points on three-of-8 shooting and committed three turnovers.
"If I see there is a need to, yes," Jackson said of the possibility for increased playing time for Farmar going forward in the playoffs. "Obviously Fisher will come back and claim his spot. That's the way it is.
"Jordan's game will certainly be noted. He played a good game today. But he can play better than that, even if it was a stellar performance."
But as promising as the next game looks for the Lakers, it's bleak for the Rockets after two late fourth-quarter blows. Yao left the game with an injured left foot and Artest could be facing a one-game suspension after a controversial Flagrant 2 foul on Pau Gasol saw him be ejected with :43.6 left in the fourth.
None of that bodes well with the Lakers gaining confidence and momentum by the second.
"It's important for us to compete and not let up on Sunday," Gasol said. "I think the momentum started for us in Game 2 and we carried it over tonight. We did a lot of good things and we have to continue that way."
Latest NBA Playoff Photos
HOUSTON - MAY 8: Ron Artest #16 of the Houston Rockets gets called for a flagrant foul against Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 8, 2009 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Pau Gasol;Ron Artest
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HOUSTON - MAY 8: Shane Battier #31 of the Houston Rockets blocks Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 8, 2009 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kobe Bryant;Shane Battier
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HOUSTON - MAY 8: Ron Artest #96 of the Houston Rockets gets called for a flagrant foul against Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 8, 2009 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ron Artest;Pau Gasol
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HOUSTON - MAY 8: Yao Ming #11 and Tracy McGrady #1 of the Houston Rockets greet each other against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Toyota Center on May 8, 2009 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Yao Ming;Tracy McGrady
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HOUSTON - MAY 8: Yao Ming #11 of the Houston Rockets rebounds the ball over Lamar Odom #7 the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Toyota Center on May 8, 2009 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lamar Odom;Yao Ming
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HOUSTON - MAY 8: A Power Dancer of the Houston Rockets dunks the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Toyota Center on May 8, 2009 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Power Dancer
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HOUSTON - MAY 8: Players of the Houston Rockets huddle before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Toyota Center on May 8, 2009 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Houston Rockets
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HOUSTON - MAY 8: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks at the post game interview in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Toyota Center on May 8, 2009 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kobe Bryant
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HOUSTON - MAY 8: Yao Ming #11 of the Houston Rockets speaks at the post game interview in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Toyota Center on May 8, 2009 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Yao Ming
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HOUSTON - MAY 8: Dikembe Mutumbo #55 of the Houston Rockets watches the game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Toyota Center on May 8, 2009 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dikembe Mutumbo
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