Kobe Bryant game 1 L.A. Lakers vs Houston Rockets 2009 NBA Playoffs

Kobe Bryant game 1 L.A. Lakers vs Houston Rockets 2009 NBA Playoffs
LOS ANGELES(AP) Kobe Bryant drove on Yao Ming in the key, the two collided knee-to-knee and the big Houston Rockets center fell to the court, grabbing his right knee and grimacing in pain.

It sure didn't look good when Yao limped off the court and disappeared into the tunnel.

A few minutes later he was back, waiting at the scorer's table to return to the physical game. Although the Rockets absorbed some hits and shed the most blood, they outmuscled the Los Angeles Lakers 100-92 in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday night.

Yao had 28 points and 10 rebounds, Ron Artest added 21 points and Aaron Brooks had 19 for the Rockets, who are in the second round for the first time since 1997.

Yao downplayed the injury and quick recovery, but his team didn't.

"I don't know what our trainer did to Yao,'' coach Rick Adelman said. "It was like Rocky coming back out there. We really needed him on the court.''

Artest said he was proud of Yao.

"He didn't even make it to the training room,'' Artest said. "Time was of essence. Every second, it was killing him not to be on the bench or on the floor. He came right out. I was so proud of him. He showed so much courage and knew that we needed him.''

After Bryant and Yao collided, Los Angeles' Pau Gasol picked up the ball for a slam dunk that pulled the Lakers to 85-79 with 4:54 left.

Yao had eight points after coming back; a jumper and six free throws. He made all 10 of his free throws.

Yao said he got hit pretty hard and just needed to walk it off.

"My knee feels fine, thanks for asking,'' he said. "There's no need to worry about it. I just need to put ice on it.

"Tonight I think my team had a great night,'' Yao added. "Everybody came out with a very active attitude. I think Ron Artest and Shane Battier did a great job guarding Kobe. Everybody played very unselfish.''

Bryant, who finished a distant second to LeBron James in NBA MVP voting announced earlier Monday, scored 32 points, doing his best to keep the Lakers in the game despite missing practice on Sunday with a sore throat. He scored 22 of the Lakers' final 42 points.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Kobe
• Bryant
• game
• L.A.
• Lakers
• vs
• Houston
• Rockets
• 2009
• NBA
• Playoffs

[goldlionTWO]

To show why people should stop comparing him to Jordan.

[dv122]

I have to mute the telecast because Doug Collins voice is annoying. Every second he compares Jordan to Kobe and he says something like "kobe is just like jordan on that layup" I cant stand him. He and other ppl are the reason there is this jordan comparison because he shoves it down or throat 200 times every game. He associates everything kobe does with jordan. When kobe dribbles its just like jordan. when kobe gets a rebound its just like jordan. when kobe passes the ball its just like jordan

[m14closerangeSniper]

now imagine if Tmac would of been there!!!!

rockets would of won the season!!!!!

[RohoicRamz94]

I agree with that DV122 Kobe/Jordan this and that all game long.Meanwhile a guy like Jeff Van Gundy tells it like it is about comparisons.

[Kobe24clutch]

Umm.. well no I don't really hear Doug Collins say that much. He did call Lebron the best in the game. Anyways what I wanted to mention was you spend a lot of time on this issue..do you have a job or something? and kobe does kinda try to imitate Jordan. So why is it wrong to say he looked like Jordan? Kobe imitates him. Nobody said he's better.

[ballerleo]

wow, r u a hater or why do you show kobes misses? ;O anyway, good video

[m4tttc]

go Rockets!!!

ahahhahahahh

i still love kobe tho

[marmol0007]

well they missed a lot of shots, i hope they win tomorrow :)

[KB24ndTheGame]

great game for kobe

[Cr1sIzBe4sT]

1st