Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Keys to the Game

Quite frankly, the Houston Rockets did exactly what they needed to do tonight. The Lakers are a bad defensive team missing their best defender, and they would have to rely on average shooters to score for them throughout the night. Simply weathering the storm would have done the job, and it did.

Regardless of the fact that the Lakers scored 62 points in the first half, Houston was always in a position to strike. All they had to do was pace the Lakers until they started to slow down, tire, and start missing shots.

It doesn't matter how many times the other team is able to shoot the ball, when they're shooting 47 percent and you are shooting 55 percent, the outcome is more or less a foregone conclusion.

On the surface, it seemed as if the Rockets struggled with the Lakers for the better part of the game. However, it never felt like they were anything but in control of themselves, just waiting for the Lakers to fall apart.

Oh, and all those open threes from Carlos Delfino definitely helped them win.

Rockets 125, Lakers 112, Final.

Let's take a look at the box score from this one. First the Rockets:

Via: NBA.com

And the Lakers:

Via: NBA.com

Rockets 125, Lakers 112, Final.

USA TODAY Sports

Houston is 14-2 against the Eastern Conference. After this game as the clock is dribbled out, they're 7-12 against the Western Conference.

Rockets 125, Lakers 112, Final.

Sacre was magnificent in the first half. The second half? Not so much.

In this half, Sacre has been dunked on, gave up the and-one to Lin, and had the ball passed between his legs.

— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) January 9, 2013

Rockets 119, Lakers 105 with 1:43 left in the fourth.

USA TODAY Sports

James Harden just got called for palming the ball. Is that even a rule anymore in the NBA? He must have been literally dribbling with a palm tree. I don't think you can legally do that.

Rockets 114, Lakers 100 with 3:43 left in the fourth.

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

There's a turnover by Metta World Peace after James Harden pulls the chair out from under him.

Rockets 109, Rockets 98 with 5:16 left in the fourth.

Kobe's just shooting now. There's not a lot of activity on Los Angeles' offense. It would be shocking to see them get back in this one if they keep playing like that.

Kobe looks exhausted.

— Leigh Ellis (@LeighEllis) January 9, 2013

Rockets 107, Lakers 96 with 7:12 left in the fourth.

Harden's slam gives him 13 consecutive 25+ point games, tying Moses Malone's franchise record.

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 9, 2013

That's not bad company to be included with. Now he's only got 27 more in a row before he catches up to Michael Jordan's longest streak.

Rockets 105, Lakers 94 with 9:23 left in the fourth.

USA TODAY Sports

James Harden is leading the way, scoring 20 since the first quarter, bringing his total to 26 points through three to go along with five rebounds and seven assists. Jeremy Lin dropped in 11 points in the third, putting his total up to 14 points, four rebounds and four assists in the game.

Metta World peace leads the way with 18 points for the Lakers, followed by Steve Nash with 16 points and eight assists, and Kobe Bryant with 15 points, five rebounds and six assists.

Rockets 100, Lakers 91 with 11:42 left in the fourth.

USA TODAY Sports

Kobe Bryant hits a three to send us into the fourth quarter. A Houston run was enough to put them ahead by 11 points at the highest.

Rockets 96, Lakers 88 after the third.

It's all starting to fall down on the Lakers. James Harden, Jeremy Lin and the Rockets are clicking and humming.

WHOA HARDEN. DUNK AND THE HARM.

— Dime Smash! (@DimeSmash) January 9, 2013

Rockets 94, Lakers 85 with 0:39 left in the third.

The strangest part about this is that he borderline sprinted to the locker room.

Steve Nash heading to the locker room after motioning to Lakers physical therapist that his back was hurting.

— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) January 9, 2013

Rockets 91, Lakers 80 with 1:37 left in the third.

USA TODAY Sports

Three-pointer by Parsons, a drive to the hoop by Jeremy Lin and a three from Delfino. This feels like it could be the turning point for the Rockets.

Rockets 87, Lakers 80 with 2:36 left in the third.

Hack Asik?

— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) January 9, 2013

Do it, Lakers! It feels so good to say. Smite-a-Dwight is far to overrated.

Of course, the Rockets are trying the "Bother-a-Robert" pathway. That one's not nearly as fun to say.

Lakers 80, Rockets 79 with 3:37 left in the third.

Six points in the first half leads to four points on two possessions for Kobe.

Lakers 78, Rockets 77 with 4:10 left in the third.

The whistles have been unleashed in the third here. One of the referees must have looked at the stat sheet and saw that Robert Sacre has four blocks.

Lakers 74, Rockets 71 with 5:20 left in the third.

Metta World Peace slams into Marcus Morris, who proceeds to go up and make a circus layup over his head.

Whoa, Marcus Morris went at the hoop strong for that and-1 drive. Impressive.

— Dime Smash! (@DimeSmash) January 9, 2013

Nash counters with a few free throws.

Lakers 71, Rockets 69 with 6:07 left in the third.

It's been a lot of Steve Nash tonight, he's got 14 points on eight shots, putting in six of 'em. This is just one of those easy lay-ups that he was able to find.

Lakers 69, Rockets 66 with 7:57 left in the third.

He's shooting 36 percent this season, so he's not that far from playing this role.

If Metta can play the Battier undersized 4/corner 3 specialist role, all may not be lost for LAL.

— John Krolik (@JohnKrolik) January 9, 2013

Lakers 69, Rockets 64 with 8:26 left in the third.

Here's video of Steve Nash's 10,000th assist. 

It's only fitting that it came on yet another formation of the pick-and-roll

Lakers 67, Rockets 64 with 9:13 left in the third.

USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles kicks off the scoring in the second half with a Robert Sacre jumper, and a Metta three-pointer gives them another big lead.

Lakers 67, Rockets 62 with 10:11 left in the third.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers have been led to the front of this one at the hands of some usual, and some unusual suspects. Steve Nash has 14 points and five assists, while Metta World Peace has 13 points. Kobe Bryant, Robert Sacre and Jodie Meeks all have six points.

Meanwhile, Houston is led by James Harden with 15 points, while Chandler Parsons and Carlos Delfino have 13 points apiece. Toney Douglas clocks in with seven big ones.

Lakers 62, Rockets 59 at the end of halftime.

We're at 10,000 for Steve Nash just before the half. A nice dime dropped down low to Antawn Jamison.

There it is! Assist 10,000 for @stevenash on the dish to Antawn Jamison. Congrats Steve! #Nash10K #GoLakers twitter.com/Lakers/status/…

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 9, 2013

Lakers 62, Rockets 59 at the half.

Nash to Kobe after Toney Douglas loses his shoes on a layup. We're on the doorstep to 10,000.

One away from #Nash10K after Steve finds Kobe for the slam! #GoLakers

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 9, 2013

Lakers 60, Rockets 57 with 0:31 left in the second.

USA TODAY Sports

Welp, Steve Nash is absolutely feeling the feeble-legged fade-aways. He's shooting like the old man in your rec league, but he's also tearing the Rockets apart like the old man in your rec league tears you apart.

Wily, that one.

Lakers 55, Rockets 51 with 1:51 left in the second.