Lakers guard Kobe Bryant flips the ball to the backboard as he makes a circus shot past Rockets forward Shane Battier late in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Kobe Bryant celebrates with the crowd after scoring a basket and being fouled in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series with the Rockets at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Rockets forward Ron Artest and Lakers guard Derek Fisher wrestle for control of the ball in the second half in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Actor Jack Nicholson screams at referee Bill Spooner late in the fourth quarter during a raucus game between the Lakers and Rockets in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Kobe Bryant seemingly doesn’t want any part of Ron Artest‘s antics in the fourth quarter. Artest, who scored 25 points, was ejected with 6:56 to play and Bryant later got a technical of his own (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Members of the Houston Rockets wait for a referee’s ruling after a technical foul was called in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Lakers Sasha Vujacic and the Rockets Aaron Brooks collide during a play in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Lakers Kobe Bryant makes a pass in front of Rockets Chuck Hayes in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Lakers Lamar Odom fouls Rockets Carl Landry in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Rockets Ron Artest and Lakers Kobe Bryant have to be separated by referee Joey Crawford in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Lakers center Andrew Bynum delivers a hard foul to Rockets forward Carl Landry in the first half of Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Lakers forward Lamar Odom walks to the Staples Center along Figueroa Street before the start of Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
