Lakers 50, Rockets 48 at the half

After and uptempo first quarter, neither team found much offense in the second quarter. Kobe Bryant has 14 for the Lakers and Yao Ming has 14 for the Rox.

The Lakers much-maligned bench has outscored Houston 14-7. Jordan Farmar, who started in place of the suspended Derek Fisher, has four points and four assists in 17 minutes,