Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets: Live Score, Highlights and Reaction

James Harden posted 40 points and 13 assists and the Houston Rockets kept their playoff hopes alive by routing the Los Angeles Lakers, 130-110, at the Toyota Center on Sunday afternoon.

The Rockets entered Sunday one game behind the Utah Jazz for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Jazz were in action when this game concluded.

The Lakers put up a good fight in this one thanks to Kobe Bryant.

Bryant electrified the road crowd with 35 points, going 10-of-22 from the floor and making all 11 of his free throws.

He single-handedly got Los Angeles back in the game after his team fell behind by 12 points in the third quarter, scoring nine straight Lakers points to force a Rockets timeout.

Still, there was just too much Harden.

Harden went 14-of-31 and canned six three-pointers, including a couple of pull up triples in transition to help put the game out of reach in the fourth period.

As a team, Houston made 17 treys and shot 51 percent from the floor overall.

Next up for the Lakers is a road meeting with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night.

Meanwhile, the Rockets will head to Minnesota to take on the Timberwolves that same evening.