HOUSTON (AP) - Kobe Bryant scored 33 points and the Los Angeles Lakers took a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series with a 108-94 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday night.

Lamar Odom had 16 points and 13 rebounds and reserve point guard Jordan Farmar had 12 points and seven assists in place of the suspended Derek Fisher, who was ejected from game 2 for a hard hit on Luis Scola.

Game 3 had no signs of the rough play that turned testy in game 2 until the final minute, when Houston's Ron Artest was ejected for a hard foul on Pau Gasol. Artest was ejected from game 2 for a verbal altercation with Bryant following Bryant's elbow to Artest's upper chest.

The Lakers snapped the Rockets' nine-game home winning streak.

Game 4 is Sunday in Houston.

(Copyright 2009 By The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)