Kobe Bryant’s Fourth-Quarter Surge Lifts Lakers Over Rockets in 2009 Road Win
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The Los Angeles Lakers erased an 11-point halftime deficit on March 11, 2009, when Kobe Bryant poured in 37 points to secure a 102-96 victory against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center.
The matchup, part of a three-game road trip and a preview of that season’s Western Conference semifinals, opened evenly. The teams were tied 24-24 after one quarter before Houston’s bench pushed the Rockets to a 52-41 advantage at the break.
Bryant shifted the momentum in the third period, scoring 13 of the Lakers’ points as Los Angeles closed the gap to 75-72 entering the fourth. The All-Star guard then took over, dropping 19 points in the final 12 minutes to complete the comeback. He finished with a game-high 37 points, four steals, two blocks and a +15 plus-minus in just under 40 minutes.
Pau Gasol added 20 points, five rebounds, four steals and a block while logging more than 42 minutes. Forward Josh Powell was the only other Laker in double figures, contributing 17 points off the bench.
Houston received 20 points from reserve guard Von Wafer, who also had three steals and a block. Luis Scola scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and Yao Ming posted 16 points, six rebounds and two blocks.
The win improved Los Angeles to a Western Conference-best 51-13. Houston fell to 42-24 but remained firmly in the playoff picture. The clubs later met in a seven-game conference semifinal series, which the Lakers won on their way to the 2009 NBA championship.
Source: Lakers Nation
