Lakers lose Julius Randle and opener to Houston Rockets, 108-90

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Kobe Bryant confronts Houston center Dwight Howard after getting elbowed in the face during the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ season-opening loss to the Rockets, 108-90. (Robyn Beck / Getty Images)

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Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard exchange words during the Lakers’ season-opening loss to the Houston Rockets, 108-90. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

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Lakers rookie Julius Randle suffered a fractured right tibia Oct. 28 during the fourth quarter of his NBA debut. The Lakers lost to the Houston Rockets, 108-90. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Julius Randle holds his head as he’s taken off the court on a stretcher after suffering a fractured right tibia in the Lakers’ season-opening loss to the Rockets, 108-90. (Robyn Beck / Getty Images)

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Wesley Johnson, left, Kobe Bryant and Jordan Hill talk with Houston’s James Harden during a stoppage in play during the Lakers’ season opener against the Rockets at Staples Center. (Robyn Beck / Getty Images)

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Lakers Coach Byron Scott looks on a Julius Randle lines up to rebound a free throw during the first half of the team’s season opener against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Ronnie Price tries to split between several Rockets defenders during the Lakers’ season opener against Houston at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Kobe Bryant is fouled by Houston’s Trevor Ariza while shooting over Dwight Howard during the first half of he Lakers’ season opener against the Rockets at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Rookie Julius Randle puts up a shot against Houston’s Dwight Howard during the first half of the Lakers’ season opener. Randle suffered what appeared to be a serious injury to his right leg during the fourth quarter. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Houston’s Dwight Howard blocks a shot from Jordan Hill in the first quarter of the Lakers’ season opener against the Rockets at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Kobe Bryant tries to work around the defense of Houston’s Trevor Ariza during the first quarter of the Lakers’ season opener against the Rockets at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Kobe Bryant backs down Houston’s Trevor Ariza during the first quarter of the Lakers’ season opener against the Rockets at Staples Center. (Robyn Beck / Getty Images)

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Ed Davis blocks the shot of Houston guard Patrick Beverley during the first half of the Lakers’ season opener against the Rockets at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Jeremy Lin brings the ball up the court during the Lakers’ season-opening loss to the Houston Rockets at Staples Center. Lin had seven points and six assists in the loss. (Paul Buck / EPA)

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Kobe Bryant slips between Houston defenders James Harden, left, and Trevor Ariza, right, during the third quarter of the Lakers’ season opener against the Rockets at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Kobe Bryant fouls Houston guard James Harden during the third quarter of the Lakers’ season opener against the Rockets at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

By Eric Pincus

Oct. 28, 2014 10:56 PM PT

Rockets 108 - Lakers 90

The Lakers lost more than their season opener at Staples Center on Tuesday night, as rookie power forward suffered a fractured right tibia in the fourth quarter.

Randle was fitted with an air cast and was wheeled off the court on a stretcher and was later transported to a local hospital. The team announed he could undergo surgery Wednesday, but a timetable for his return was no immediately known.

The injury occurred with 6:46 left in the game, slightly after a tussle between former teammates Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard.

Howard was called for a flagrant foul, elbowing Bryant -- both received technical fouls as Bryant taunted Howard yelling “You’re soft,” and “Try me.”

The Rockets looked like the significantly better basketball team, quashing a few Lakers’ runs to win by 18 points -- leading by as many as 27.

James Harden led all scorers with 32 points, hitting 15 of 16 attempts from the free-throw line.

Howard struggled through foul trouble, but managed a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards. Power forward Terrence Jones scored 16 with 13 rebounds. Trevor Ariza also added 16 points.

Bryant played 30 minutes, scoring 19 points on 6-of-17 shooting. Carlos Boozer contributed 17 points with seven rebounds. Jordan Hill had 10 rebounds but needed seven shots to score seven points.

Ed Davis fouled out with 11 points and six rebounds off the bench for the Lakers. Randle scored two in 14 minutes before going down with the leg injury.

The Lakers shot 35.4% from the field while allowing Houston to hit 42.5%. The Rockets converted 41.4% from long range (12-29). The Lakers hit just 30% (3-10).

A total of 89 free throws were attempted, 50 by the Rockets.

The Lakers (0-1) travel to play the Phoenix Suns (0-0) on Wednesday night. The Rockets (1-0) visit the Utah Jazz (0-0), also on Wednesday.

Rockets 85 - Lakers 69 (end of third quarter)

Dwight Howard picked up his fourth foul just over a minute into the third quarter, heading to the bench with 10:53 on the clock.

The Lakers quickly went on a 12-1 run, led by Carlos Boozer and Jeremy Lin, to get within eight but Houston settled down and pushed their lead back to double digits.

James Harden paced all teams with 30 points, making 15 of his 16 free-throw attempts.

The Lakers got 18 points in 27 minutes from Kobe Bryant. Boozer scored 13.

Houston shot 45.6% from the field through three periods, while hitting 10-of-21 from three-point range (47.6%).

The Lakers hit 36.1% and 37.5%, respectively. Both teams spent a significant amount of time at the free throw line, combining for 60 attempts (Houston’s 33 to the Lakers’ 27).

Rockets 62 - Lakers 45 (halftime)

The Lakers gained momentum briefly in the second quarter, scoring on back-to-back baskets from Carlos Boozer and Jordan Hill.

The Rockets responded immediately, hitting a technical free throw on an illegal defense call, followed by a trio of three-pointers from James Harden and Trevor Ariza.

Down 18, the Lakers reeled off seven in a row to climb back within 11 but the Rockets finished strong with a 17-point lead at the break.

Kobe Bryant contributed 16 points, shooting 6-of-13 from the field. Jeremy Lin went scoreless in 14 minutes.

Harden led all scorers with 22, including nine perfect free-throw attempts. Howard ended the half with nearly a double-double (10 points and eight rebounds) but also three fouls.

The Lakers shot 36.4% from the field and 40% from three-point range (2-5). Houston hit 43.2% and 50% (8-16), respectively.

Rockets 31 - Lakers 19 (end of first quarter)

The Lakers started the year slowly, missing 19 of their first 25 shots, shooting a dismal 24.0% for the quarter.

Kobe Bryant scored six points to lead the Lakers, but shot just 3-of-7 from the field.

The home crowd booed Dwight Howard on every touch, until the former Lakers center picked up his second foul five minutes into the period.

Despite Houston holding a lead, Coach Kevin McHale put Howard back on the floor for the final two minutes of the period while resting James Harden. Howard was able to finish the quarter without a third foul, scoring two points with four rebounds.

Harden led all scorers with 11 points. Houston shot 42.9% from the field.

Jeremy Lin didn’t score in six minutes, with two personal fouls. Rookie Jordan Clarkson’s first basket in the NBA was a three-pointer from the right corner.

Pregame

The Lakers (0-0) open the season on Tuesday night at Staples Center, hosting Dwight Howard and the Houston Rockets (0-0).

After a 27-55 season, the Lakers hope to bounce back with a healthy Kobe Bryant.

The Rockets (54-28) were a top-five playoff team in the Western Conference, although they have a lot to prove after sending Jeremy Lin to the Lakers, Omer Asik to the New Orleans Pelicans and letting Chandler Parsons leave as a restricted free agent to the Dallas Mavericks.

Houston will finish ahead of the Lakers in the standings this season, but riding on emotion, the home team may pull out the win.

For a more in-depth breakdown, check out Preview: Lakers vs. Houston Rockets.

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus