The undefeated Los Angeles Lakers are well rested and will host the Houston Rockets tonight in a battle between Western Conference powerhouses at the Staples Center.
The Lakers are 4-0 on the season and haven't played since beating the local Los Angeles Clippers, 106-88, on Wednesday. Reigning NBA MVP Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 27 points and shot just 8-of-21 from the field. Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher netted 15 and 13 points, respectively, in the win.
Andrew Bynum scored nine points and grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds while Pau Gasol added nine points and 11 boards for the Lakers, who have beaten their intra-city rivals six straight times.
Houston will resume its five-game road trip on Sunday and ended a two-game losing streak with Friday's 92-83 triumph over the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center.
New Houston forward Ron Artest netted 23 points and pulled down eight boards to help the Rockets, who snapped a modest two-game skid after starting the 2008-09 season with three straight wins.
Carl Landry scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds while Yao Ming ended with 16 points, nine rebounds and five blocks in the win. Houston is 1-1 on the trip and will also visit Phoenix and San Antonio on the current swing.
On the injury front for the Rockets, Yao is probable for tonight's game with a bruised right knee and forward Shane Battier (foot/ankle) is questionable. Yao is fully recovered from a stress fracture in his left foot a year ago.
Houston won two of three games against the Lakers last season and has won four of the past five matchups.
The Rockets have won two straight and four of six as the visitor in this series.
