[February 20, 2014]LOS ANGELES —
Rockets 134, Lakers 108: Dwight
Howard made his return to Los Angeles and recorded 20 points and 13
rebounds as visiting Houston crushed the Lakers.
Howard, who was playing against the Lakers in Los Angeles for the
first time since moving to the Rockets in free agency last summer,
went 9-of-14 from the field in 28 minutes and blocked three shots.
Fellow All-Star James Harden led Houston with 29 points and 11
assists while Chandler Parsons scored 18 points in the rout.
Wesley Johnson scored 24 points to pace the Lakers, who extended
their franchise-record home losing streak to eight games. Kendall
Marshall posted 20 points and 16 assists and Jodie Meeks returned
from a five-game absence with 19 points for Los Angeles.
Howard scored the Rockets’ first six points, including a dunk that
earned him a technical foul. Howard continued the dunk fest while an
angry Lakers crowd rained down boos while the game was still close,
but Parsons’ layup made it a 64-43 lead at the half and Houston was
not challenged after the break.
Howard began joining in on the jeering with a smile on his face as
the Rockets piled on, and his dunk midway through the third quarter
pushed the lead to 81-55. Harden buried four 3-pointers in the final
4:13 of the third quarter to spread the lead to 104-75 entering the
fourth as Houston cruised.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Lakers traded veteran G Steve Blake to the Golden
State Warriors in exchange for Gs MarShon Brooks and Kent Bazemore.
… The Rockets’ 134 points marked a season high, eclipsing the
previous mark of 126 on Jan. 20 against Portland. … Los Angeles G
Steve Nash (back), C Pau Gasol (groin), F Nick Young (knee), G Kobe
Bryant (knee) and F Xavier Henry (knee) all sat out.
