HOUSTON 99 LAKERS 87

Lakers Pau Gasol battles for a rebound with Rockets Shane Battier,left, Ron Artest and Kyle Lowry during Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series in Houston.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Kobe Bryant gets a hand in the face from Rockets Luis Scola during Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series in Houston.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Referees have to step in between Lakers Kobe Bryant and Ron Artest after an exchange of words during Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series in Houston.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers head coach Phil Jackson has a few words with Sasha Vujacic during Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series in Houston.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Shannon Brown fouls Rockets Kyle Lowry during Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series in Houston.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Pau Gasol hangs on to the net in frustration after a foul against the Rockets during Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series in Houston.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Lamar Odom, grimacing, is helped by teammates from left Kobe Bryant, Sasha Vujacic, Jordan Farmar and Andrew Bynum after falling to the floor during Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series in Houston.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Rockets Shane Battier is fouled by Lakers Pau Gasol, left, as Jordan Farmar helps defend on the play during Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series in Houston.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Injured Rocket players Yao Ming and Dikembe Mutombo stand on the court before the start of Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinal series in Houston.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)