he Houston Rockets did more than extend their winning streak on Sunday. They validated it. Rafer Alston scored 31 points and hit eight 3-pointers, both career highs, and the Rockets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 104-92 to extend their winning streak to 22 and claim sole possession of first place in the Western Conference.
Kobe Bryant scored 24 points for the Lakers and smothered Tracy McGrady on defense, helping hold the Houston star to 11 points on 4-for-16 shooting.
The rest of the Rockets made up for it. Shane Battier scored 14 points and shadowed Bryant most of the game. Backup point guard Bobby Jackson added 19 points and Luis Scola had 13 points and 11 rebounds.
The Rockets have won 26 of their last 27 games and 31 of their last 34. They've won 15 straight at the Toyota Center, 10 straight since Yao Ming went out with a broken foot and 11 of their last 13 games by double digits.
The Lakers have lost three of their last four. They played without Pau Gasol, who's out indefinitely with a sprained ankle.
Even with McGrady struggling, the Rockets built a 15-point halftime lead.
Alston had 16 points in the first quarter and Houston's reserves scored 25 in the first half.
The Lakers held Houston to 12 points in the third quarter to cut a 15-point halftime deficit to two. But with the Lakers continuously double-teaming McGrady, Alston hit three 3-pointers in the third quarter to give the Rockets a 71-66 lead heading to the fourth.
Every time the Lakers got close, someone other than McGrady would keep Houston ahead. Jackson hit a 3-pointer from the corner to put the Rockets up 84-79 after Bryant cut the lead to two with a free throw.
Jordan Farmar's 3-pointer with 6:09 left pulled the Lakers to 86-84, but Battier drove for a layup 25 seconds later.
Battier and Jackson sank 3s as Houston surged to a 96-86 lead with 3:20 to play. With McGrady occupying the defense at the other side of the floor, Alston drove for a layup and Jackson swished a jumper from the wing made it 100-86.
Lamar Odom scored 17 and Ronny Turiaf added 13 for the Lakers, who play at Dallas on Tuesday, the next leg on a rugged road trip.
With the Lakers' defense keying on McGrady from the start, Alston sank three 3-pointers in the first 7 minutes as the Rockets built a quick six-point lead.
Bryant missed his first three shots, then hit a jumper from the wing and finished two fast breaks with layups. The Lakers trimmed the deficit to 24-23 by the end of the opening quarter.
Alston and McGrady started the second quarter on the sideline, but the Rockets' reserves stretched the lead. Jackson hit a jumper, drove for a reverse layup, then found Luther Head open for a breakaway dunk to start a 15-6 spurt.
Mike Harris, signed to a 10-day contract earlier this month, scored inside and hit a jumper from the free-throw line as Houston pushed the lead over 10. McGrady didn't score in the first half, going 0-for-6 from the field, but Houston still managed to build a 59-44 halftime lead.
Bryant, smothered the entire half by Battier and Chuck Hayes, scored only four points in the second quarter.
But Bryant started the third with a basket from the free-throw line, triggering a 12-0 Lakers spurt. The Rockets missed their first 12 shots out of the break, including two by McGrady.
Alston snapped Houston's drought with a 3-pointer and added two more 3s in the final 1:44 of the quarter to keep the Rockets ahead.
Notes:@ Former Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy was a television analyst for the game and sat one seat from team owner Les Alexander, who fired him after last season. Former center Hakeem Olajuwon also had a courtside seat near Alexander. ... Rockets rookie forward Carl Landry sat out for the fifth straight game with a bruised right knee.
03/16/2008 06:52 PM
By CHRIS DUNCAN AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON
Houston Rockets' Rafer Alston (12) celebrates during the fourth quarter of a basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday, March 16, 2008, in Houston. The Rockets beat the Lakers 104-92 to win their 22nd consecutive game.
(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
he Houston Rockets did more than extend their winning streak on Sunday. They validated it. Rafer Alston scored 31 points and hit eight 3-pointers, both career highs, and the Rockets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 104-92 to extend their winning streak to 22 and claim sole possession of first place in the Western Conference.
