The AP reports: Kobe Bryant scored 18 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter and the Los Angeles Lakers ended Houston’s 12-game home winning streak with a 102-96 victory. Artest, the fiery forward who’s one of Houston’s top 1-on-1 defenders, used all of his tactics in vain to stop Bryant in the final quarter. He also had a dismal offensive night, scoring only 11 points on 4-for-16 shooting with six turnovers… Pau Gasol scored 20 points and Josh Powell added 17 for the Lakers, who overcame the absence of Lamar Odom to snap a three-game road losing streak… Reserve Von Wafer scored 20 points for the Rockets, who’ve lost all three meetings with the Lakers this season.
