The Houston Rockets overcame a 45-point effort from Kobe Bryant to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 95-93 in their NBA season opener on Tuesday.
Rockets guard Tracy McGrady contributed 30 points and towering Chinese center Yao Ming 25 to help the visitors dominate the second and third quarters, before holding off a thrilling Lakers comeback at the Staples Center.
All-Star guard Bryant, who missed the Lakers' final exhibition contest Friday with a sprained right wrist, finished 13-of-32 from the field and 18-of-27 free throws.
"Kobe missed nine free throws and that's one of the best free throw shooters in the game," Lakers coach Phil Jackson told reporters. "He got tired out there.
"Tonight I thought we played a good five minutes down the stretch after being down a lot of points to bring that match back to a tie. Those things are good. We forced 19 turnovers and kept our turnovers down.
"But I told the team I thought they saw the best and the worst of who we are. There were some real nice moments and there were just comedy-of-error moments out there in the third quarter."
Although Bryant finished in scintillating form, he faced an inauspicious beginning when he was loudly booed by his home fans during the pregame introductions.
Five months ago, he had rocked the Lakers when he told a local radio station he wanted to be traded from the team, before changing his mind a few hours later.
Bryant, who helped the Los Angeles outfit win three consecutive NBA championships from 2000-2002, has been deeply upset by the team's lack of success over the last three seasons.
However, he scored 13 points in a scrappy first quarter to put his team 25-16 ahead.
Houston, gradually settling into a smooth rhythm, took control in the second period to level at 43-43 at halftime before tightening its grip in the third quarter.
McGrady poured in 14 points and Yao six to give the visitors a 70-62 advantage going into the final period.
The hard-driving Bryant then inspired a gutsy Lakers comeback, delivering 18 more points before setting up a two-point jumper from guard Derek Fisher that leveled the score at 92-92 with 13.9 seconds left on the clock.
But the Rockets conjured up a last desperate surge and forward Shane Battier's pinpoint three-pointer with 2.5 seconds remaining regained control for the visitors.
Duncan dominates
The San Antonio Spurs opened the new season with a 106-97 victory over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
The Spurs, last season's NBA champions, received their title rings before the game and raised a banner commemorating the franchise's fourth title in the last nine years.
Tim Duncan scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the win, while Tony Parker added 19 points and Manu Ginobili had 16 points and eight assists.
Duncan inked a two-year contract extension that will keep him with the San Antonio Spurs through the 2011-12 NBA season.
The Spurs, always close-mouthed about players' deals, declined to disclose the financial terms.
However, the San Antonio Express-News reported the deal is worth about $40 million - an amount that will allow the Spurs to pursue free agents after the 2009-2010 season.
Carlos Boozer scored 32 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and Deron Williams added 24 points to lead the Utah Jazz to a 117-96 road win over the Golden State Warriors. Baron Davis had 25 points for the Warriors.
Source: China Daily/Agencies
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