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News

LAst Night's Action: Lakers Stymied by Rockets, Lose Second Straight

By  Jimmy Bramlett
Published Nov 15, 2009 11:00 PM
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Houston Rockets defeat LA Lakers 101-91. Rockets guard Aaron Brook blistered the Lakers for a career high 33 points as the Rockets ran circles around the Lakers and their sloppy offense. Ron Artest led the Lakers with 22 points while Andrew Bynum scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Kobe Bryant had a human game with 18 points. The Rockets, despite their tallest player barely clearing Prince sans platforms, out-rebounded the Lakers 60-38. That will do you in.

LA Clippers defeat Oklahoma City Thunder 101-93. With the Clippers nursing an eight point lead after the first half, the question of whether they could hold on to the lead came up. While they couldn’t hold the lead trailing by one going into the fourth quarter the Clippers suddenly woke up in the fourth to avenge their loss at home earlier in the week. Baron Davis scored 24 points including a crucial three pointer with less than a minute remaining in the game when the Clippers held on to a tenuous one point lead. Chris Kaman added 25 points and seven rebounds.

Notable Notes

Here are some thoughts on the day’s NFL action:

  • In case you decided to turn the game off and watch the Lakers once the Patriots took a 31-14 lead in the fourth quarter, what an ending! After the Colts scored before the two minute warning to bring the deficit to 34-28, the Patriots had the chance to ice the game. But before the drive started they burned their second time out. After an incomplete pass on third-and-two with the clock stopped at 2:08, the Patriots had to burn their third time out.
    Then for some inexplicable reason, coach Bill Belichick decided to go for it on fourth down at their own 28 yard line. Tom Brady completed a pass to Kevin Faulk but was just short of the first down. However the Pats couldn’t challenge since they were out of time outs. Of course Peyton Manning drove the 29 yards for a touchdown with 13 seconds left in the game to win the game. The Patriots had never lost a game when they led by 13 points in the fourth quarter in 87 chances under Belichick until tonight.

    Bonus footage: The field at Lucas Oil Stadium on fire after the jump! Courtesy Sports By Brooks.

    • Who would have thought before the season began that one of the marquee games played in Week 10 would be the Cincinnati Bengals-Pittsburgh Steelers game? In a showdown for AFC North supremacy, the Bengals were the tougher grittier team. And yes I did have to blink before I typed that down. In a game that had no offensive touchdowns (the Bengals ran a punt for a TD in the first quarter and missed the extra point), it was surprising how entertaining it was. In an 18-12 victory the Bengals are now 7-2 and 5-0 in the AFC North with only the Cleveland Browns left to face in the division. Who dey?
    • Remember when Jets fans were ready to crown quarterback Mark Sanchez MVP after a 3-0 start? As Lou Holtz would say, not so fast now. Their only win since September 27 was against the Oakland Raiders, and they came out of the bye week to lose to the resurgent Jaguars today. UCLA alum and Jaguars running back Maurice Drew got the ball at the Jets 10-yard line and had a clear shot to the end zone with time expiring. But Drew did the right thing: take a knee at the one-yard line rather than score and give the ball back to the Jets. The Jags took a knee three times allowing time to expire to three seconds before kicking the winning field goal.
    • The NFC East is not the beast. With how poorly the Giants have been playing as of late and the mediocre at best showing of the Cowboys and Eagles today, they are not the power division of the NFL.
    • Never count out the San Diego Chargers. After their home loss against the Broncos to give them a 2-3 record a lot of people had written them off. But they have come back with four straight wins and are now tied atop the AFC West standings with Denver. And get this: they face off against the Broncos in Denver next week after the Broncos lost to the Redskins today. Are the Chargers making their comeback earlier this season? This should be the game of the week next week.

    Tonight’s Action

    LA Kings at Florida Panthers. 4:30 pm FSWest, AM 1150 KLTK.

    Anaheim Ducks at Pittsburgh Penguins. 4:30 pm FS Prime Ticket, AM 830 KLAA.

    Cal State Fullerton Titans at UCLA Bruins. 9:00 pm ESPN, AM 570 KLAC.

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