LAst Night's Action: Lakers Squeak by Rockets

LA Lakers defeat Houston Rockets 114-106 (OT). The Houston Rockets are at best an inconsistent team that is struggling to get into the playoff race. The Lakers are a team that have lost two straight at STAPLES Center. So of course even an extraordinary night by Lamar Odom for the Lakers couldn't stave off the Rockets in regulation.

Odom in the starting lineup with Andrew Bynum sitting out, started the game shooting 3-for-11. However in the second half he upped his game and ended up with his second career 20-20 night with exactly 20 points and 20 rebounds. Kobe Bryant also had a double-double with 32 points and 11 assists.

Yet those pesky Rockets are just the fly in the Lakers ointment. Time and time again, the small shooters would find wide open shots behind the arc thanks to their great movement without the ball. They attempted a season-high 38 three-pointers.

And thanks to their movement, somehow someone would be open in the paint for easy layups which helped them tie the game in the closing seconds of overtime. And remember that the Lakers were the team with the size advantage.

In overtime, the Lakers would trail by four points but eventually turned things around defensively holding the Rockets to only one layup in the final 2:47.

Perhaps the most head scratching stat of the evening: Kevin Martin was the only player on the Rockets to attempt free throws going 10-for-11.

Minnesota Wild defeat LA Kings 1-0 (SO). The lone score was Pierre-Marc Bouchard in the second round of the shootout thus preserving goalie Jonathan Bernier's first shutout of the season in a losing effort. Can you say rusty much?

TONIGHT'S ACTION

Chicago Bulls at LA Clippers. 7:30 p.m. FS Prime Ticket, AM 980 KFWB.

LA Kings at Edmonton Oilers. 6:30 p.m. KCOP 13, AM 1150 KTLK.

San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks. 7:00 p.m. KDOC, AM 830 KLAA.

USC Trojans at UCLA Bruins. 8:00 p.m. FSWest, AM 570 KLAC (UCLA Radio), AM 710 KSPN (USC Radio).