Lakers vs. Rockets final score: Lakers win 98-92 in closely-contested game

The Los Angeles Lakers won their second-straight game in a 98-92 victory over the Houston Rockets. Nick Young's return to the Lakers rotation continues to work out, as he was one of the biggest reasons the team was able to gain an advantage over the Rockets.

With Rockets star Dwight Howard sidelined for Wednesday night's game, Jordan Hill was easily able to take advantage of Houston's lack of interior defense. Throughout the night, Hill was able to cut into the paint or hit mid-range jumpers without Houston doing much to stop him. His solid play produced a 16-point, 10-rebound stat line, another double-double in the books.

Speaking of Houston's lack of interior defense, the Lakers were consistently able to cut to the paint and get to the free throw line. Lead by Kobe Bryant, who nailed 8 of his 10 free throw attempts, the Lakers hit 82% of their attempts from the free throw line, one of the keys to the team's victory.

While he didn't have the most efficient shooting night, Kobe Bryant still did a lot to help push the team to a win. Perhaps his biggest contribution was his work as a facilitator, as he matched a season-high with seven assists. Kobe did a great job finding his teammates, as he continued to use Jordan Hill screens to capture the necessary openings he needed to penetrate and kick it out to an open man.

Wesley Johnson came up big in the closing minutes of the game, icing two free throws after being fouled, then stripping James Harden, which led to a breakway layup, and a foul by Harden, giving Wes a three-point opportunity. He knocked it down.

Wednesday night's game definitely wasn't the prettiest performance for the Lakers, but they did a nice job getting the victory over a tough Rockets team. The Lakers will hope to maintain their winning streak as they head to Dallas to square off against the Mavericks. Enjoy the winning streak, and the continued excellence of Swaggy P.