NBA PLAYOFFS Travel-logged Bryant leads L.A.

The Lakers ousted Houston in the first round and will meet San Antonio next.
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kobe Bryant wore a look of exhaustion as he held his 15-month-old daughter Natalia while addressing reporters.
He looked a lot more wiped out than she did, and it was way past her bedtime.
"All I have to do is go out there and play, then go to sleep," Bryant said.
It was a bit more in this case.
Following three round-trip flights to Colorado in as many days for pretrial hearings in his sexual assault case, Bryant had 31 points, six rebounds and 10 assists Wednesday night as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 97-78 to win their first-round series 4 games to 1.
The Lakers moved into the second round where they'll meet the San Antonio Spurs in a matchup of the teams who have won the last five NBA championships. Game 1 is Sunday in San Antonio.
Game time
Looking worn and surrounded by bodyguards, Bryant showed up at Staples Center 26 minutes before the opening tipoff following his third straight day in court.
He had by far his best game of the postseason, shooting 12-of-21 from the field and 6-of-6 at the foul line, while committing only one turnover in 41 minutes.
He shot 33.8 percent in the first four games of the series.
Bryant left with 6 minutes, 16 seconds remaining to a standing ovation and was warmly greeted when he reached the bench.
"A lot of people will remember 31 points, but I'll remember that he's been doing a lot of traveling in a short period of time," teammate Karl Malone said. "You put that ball in his hand, and he's ready to play and that's what it's all about."
Bryant said he was more tired than he'd ever been while playing a game and didn't plan to get off his couch today.
"In the car on the way over, I just felt so tired. I didn't want to go to sleep," he said, explaining that would have made him sluggish after he awoke. "I tried to meditate on the way over.
"When I get on the basketball court, something just energizes me."
Pulling away
The Lakers trailed 52-49 early in the second half before putting the Rockets away with a 33-7 run to finish the third quarter and start the fourth. Bryant had 11 points and four assists during the rally.
Malone had 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists, and Shaquille O'Neal added 12 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four blocked shots for the Lakers.
"This is one of the best defensive games I've ever seen Shaquille play from start to finish," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.
O'Neal didn't speak with reporters.
Leaders
Slava Medvedenko also scored 12 points, showing no ill effects from his strained right Achilles' tendon.
Jim Jackson led Houston with 17 points. Steve Francis had 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists, and Cuttino Mobley had 16 points for the Rockets -- all but two in the first quarter.
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