Lakers at Rockets!
Game 6 will be on 9:30 PM ET, May 14, 2009 at the Toyota Center, Houston, Texas.
The Lakers' 118-78 win on Tuesday matched Houston's most lopsided playoff loss. The Rockets say don't count them out just yet, pointing to their propensity for bouncing back after embarrassing defeats.
The Lakers have been criticized for failure to sustain mental toughness throughout playoff series, and Bryant said he'll demand that younger players come out focused in Game 6.
Without Yao, the Rockets are forced to use an undersized lineup, with 6-foot-6 Chuck Hayes starting at center. Lakers coach Phil Jackson started 7-footers Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum to take advantage.
Gasol scored 16 points and Bynum, mostly ineffective in the playoffs, added 14. Lamar Odom, who bruised his back in Game 4, came off the bench to score 10 points in 19 minutes and the Lakers scored 56 points in the paint.
