Lakers defuse Rockets to reach conference final

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers finally saw off the under-strength Houston Rockets with a crushing 89-70 victory Sunday to advance to the Western Conference finals.

Spanish forward Pau Gasol posted a game-high 21 points and 18 rebounds, while Trevor Ariza added 15 points as the Lakers clinched the best-of-seven series 4-3 at Staples Center.

Watched by a capacity crowd including Hollywood actors Jack Nicholson and Dustin Hoffman, the home team charged 20 points clear by halftime and never relinquished their grip.

"Our activity level was pretty good on the defensive end and we changed the game right off the bat," Lakers coach Phil Jackson told reporters. "It was the prettiest game.

"This will happen sometimes in a game seven when teams know each other so well they're almost running their offense for them, but we got it accomplished today."

Houston, who had surprisingly forced a decider despite missing All-Star center Yao Ming since game three, were outclassed by a Los Angeles outfit continually mixing tight defense with swift counter-attacks.

Lakers center Andrew Bynum produced his best game of the series, shooting 14 points and six rebounds, while All-Star guard Kobe Bryant weighed in with 14 points and seven rebounds.

Guard Aaron Brooks top-scored for the Rockets with 13 points on four-for-13 shooting and Argentine forward Luis Scola contributed 11 but the dangerous Ron Artest was limited to just seven.

The Lakers will meet the Denver Nuggets in the best-of-seven conference finals, with the series opener in Los Angeles Tuesday.

DEFENSIVE END

"If we play hard every night and we're ready to compete, starting on the defensive end, we're going to give ourselves a chance," Gasol said after leaving the court late in the fourth quarter to a standing ovation.

"Hopefully we're going to carry that into the next round, and to a championship."

Stung by their 95-80 loss in Houston three days earlier, the Lakers made a fast start, defending superbly and racing to an early 8-0 lead after Ariza made a three-point jumper.

Struggling to find the hoop, the Rockets finally got their first point with a Brooks free throw after 5.07 minutes but Los Angeles ended the opening quarter 22-10 ahead.

Although Gasol squandered a couple of scoring chances early, Los Angeles tightened their grip in the second period with an unanswered 8-0 run to hold a commanding 51-31 lead at half-time. Helped by a couple of three-pointers from Brooks, the Rockets held Los Angeles to a 69-50 lead after the third quarter but had too much ground to make up in the final period.

"I'm disappointed with the way we started the game," Houston coach Rick Adelman said. "They got us on our heels in the first two quarters, much like we did them at our place, and we just never recovered.

"But I'm really proud of our team. The way they responded, losing Yao, and we won two games after that. These guys bust their tails but today the Lakers were just the better team."

(Editing by John Mehaffey and Ian Ransom; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)