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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- And now, the showdown.
Kobe Bryant scored 18 of his 31 points in the first 10 minutes, and put the clamps on explosive rookie Steve Francis as the Los Angeles Lakers took command early in beating the slumping Houston Rockets 101-85 Sunday.
The 31 points equaled a season-high for Bryant, who made 13 of
18 shots and also had four rebounds and six assists in addition to
his excellent defensive job on Francis.
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Hakeem: Shortness of breath
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Houston's Hakeem Olajuwon left the Rockets' loss to the Lakers on Sunday because of shortness of breath in the second quarter.
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| Olajuwon |
Olajuwon did not return to the lineup, although he
remained on the bench for the rest of the game. A Rockets spokesman told ESPN
the team does not think the problem is related to the atrial fibrillation,
or irregular heartbeat, Olajuwon was diagnosed with in 1996. He is
listed as doubtful for Monday's game against the Clippers.
The team has not yet decided if he will return to Houston on Monday or stay with the team. There were no plans for further tests Sunday night, but the spokesman said that could change depending on Olajuwon's condition.
-- ESPN.com news services
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The win was the 11th straight for the Lakers, who travel to
Portland for their final regular-season game against the Trail
Blazers on Tuesday night.
"We're in a groove right now, we're in a rhythm," Bryant said.
"It's important to go up there with a game like this, it's good
for our momentum, good for our confidence."
The Lakers and Blazers both have 45-11 records -- best in the NBA
by far. Portland's 101-92 win over Utah on Sunday was its 11th
straight and 16th in a row at home.
"Portland has a very impressive team, they have two star teams
on one team," said Shaquille O'Neal, who had 24 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists and five blocked shots against the Rockets.
"However, if we bring our 'A' game and play the way that we've been playing, I like our chances."
Glen Rice added 17 points for the Lakers, who took the lead for
good in the opening two minutes and weren't seriously threatened at
any time.
Cuttino Mobley scored 16 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter for the Rockets, who have lost five straight and eight of 10.
Rookie Kenny Thomas added 14 points for Houston. Francis,
meanwhile, was held to six points -- all in the second half. He
missed his first nine shots, wound up 2-of-11 and committed seven
turnovers.
"Every time I touched the ball, it seemed like there were four
or five hands in my face," Francis said. "They played good
defense, I'm not going to lie about that.
|  | | Lakers guard Kobe Bryant soars to the hoop for two of his game-high 31 points vs. Houston. |
"It wasn't just Kobe. He did a good job, but there were two
guys on me every time I touched the ball."
The 6-foot-7 Bryant, who blanked Allen Iverson, the NBA's leading scorer, in the second half of an 87-84 Los Angeles victory over Philadelphia a week earlier, said he enjoyed guarding the
opposition's speedy point guards.
"It's fun chasing those little guys around," he said. "I have
just as much energy as they do, if not more."
The Lakers went on a 10-3 run to start the second half for a
58-32 lead, and it was 73-54 entering the fourth period.
Mobley scored seven straight points to cut Los Angeles' lead to
87-75 with 5:06 left, and the Rockets later cut the deficit to 10
points, but that was as close as they would get.
"All those guys are tough, and Kobe was a nightmare," Mobley said. "Shaq does his job -- he's the best player in the league by far."
Bryant scored seven points and assisted on a basket by Rice as
the Lakers took a 9-2 lead in the opening 3½ minutes.
Bryant made eight of his first nine shots including a pair from
3-point range, and Rice was also 2-of-2 from beyond the 3-point
line in the first quarter, which ended with the Lakers leading
30-13.
O'Neal heated up at the start of the second period, scoring the
first 10 Los Angeles points as the Lakers extended their lead to
40-18.
The Lakers led by as many as 23 points before settling for a 48-29 halftime lead.
"I thought we played an energetic first quarter and then we sort of fell into a lull," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "But I'm real happy to carry the energy of 11 wins into Portland."
Game notes
Bryant, O'Neal and Rice combined for their team's first 42
points. ... The Lakers haven't lost since being beaten 89-83 at
Houston on Jan. 31 and 105-81 at San Antonio the following day. ...
The Lakers and Rockets split their four games this season. Portland
is the only other team to have beaten the Lakers more than once,
winning two of three. ... The Lakers have two double-digit winning
streaks this season for the fourth time in their history. They won
a season-high 16 straight in December and January. ... Francis,
held scoreless at Denver in his last game and ejected late in the
third quarter after being called for a flagrant foul, is the only
NBA player to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists and
steals. O'Neal leads the Lakers in points, rebounds, assists and
blocked shots.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Houston Clubhouse
LA Lakers Clubhouse
Olajuwon leaves game with shortness of breath
RECAPS
Toronto 103
Phoenix 102
Milwaukee 102
Orlando 95
New York 89
Philadelphia 88
Portland 101
Utah 92
LA Lakers 101
Houston 85
Minnesota 102
San Antonio 98
Detroit 93
Chicago 90
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