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Bryant, Lakers aim to bounce back vs. Rockets

Mar 30, 2007 - 2:34 PM Houston (46-26) at LA Lakers (38-33) 10:30 pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers stumbled against the NBA's worst team the last time out. Now they will try to avoid the same fate vs. a playoff bound team.

Bryant and the Lakers hope to bounce back from a lackluster outing when they welcome the Houston Rockets on Friday.

After reaching at least 40 points in five straight games, Bryant struggled with his shot, going 7-of-26 for 23 points in an 88-86 loss to lowly Memphis on Tuesday.

"It was just one of those games we just couldn't get our rhythm," Bryant said. "Everybody has games like that and we had one."

The defeat also ended the Lakers' five-game winning streak. Los Angeles is sixth in the Western Conference standings, 2 1/2 games in front of Denver (35-35).

Houston is looking to complete a Los Angeles exacta after rallying for a 92-87 victory over the Clippers here Wednesday. Tracy McGrady scored 27 points and fellow All-Star Yao Ming added 24 and 15 rebounds to pace Houston.

The Rockets have won 10 of their last 12 games. They are 10-3 since Yao returned to the lineup on March 5 after he missed more than three months with a broken bone below his knee.

Already having clinched a playoff spot, Houston is trying to catch Utah (47-24) for fourth place and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Rockets are 1 1/2 games behind the Jazz, but have two meetings left against them.

Los Angeles has captured two of three matchups over Houston this season, including a 112-101 triumph here on December 15 when Bryant poured in 53 points. McGrady missed the game with back spasms.