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Phil Jackson, that old purist, has survived these encounters with what he called “mud wrestling” before, in the era of Chuck Daly’s Bad Boys and Pat Riley II: The New York Years, when the game would almost literally grind to a stop.

So on the afternoon after his Lakers and Jeff Van Gundy’s Houston Rockets shot in the 30s, scored in the 70s and played as if in the ‘90s, Jackson said he was less concerned with the result -- after all, the Lakers were 72-71 winners and lead the series, 1-0 -- as he was with the looks of it. Van Gundy, true to his Atlantic Division roots, liked it just fine.

Game 2 is tonight at Staples Center, both teams perhaps hoping to play themselves away from highlights such as the Lakers’ nine-point third quarter and the Rockets’ 15-turnover first half, just the tip of the unpleasantness.

By the end, the Lakers looked like a team torn by injury, the Rockets like playoff first-timers, and maybe everybody would benefit from a day off and an uncomfortable look at the evidence.

“Twelve hours later, it’s hard to imagine what the mind-set of the referees is when they come into a ballgame like that,” Jackson said. “Because the league just sent out an instructional video on what’s going to be called in the playoffs, as far as fouls and violations and travels. You can take that tape and send both of them back to the league and ask, ‘Can you redefine this please?’

“Actually, the crew was pretty good, but it turned into a mud-wrestling contest. I don’t think that’s what the teams really want. Maybe Houston wants to play that kind of game, but it was just so physical, I don’t see how the referees could sort anything out in that ballgame.”

While Jackson was taking up for his guys, his guys were claiming to be rather pleased with the temperament of Saturday night’s game. Shaquille O’Neal said he thought Game 1 was “well-officiated,” the kind of observation he’ll make once or twice in a career. And, while Kobe Bryant skipped Sunday’s media availability -- it has been a week now -- Karl Malone, Gary Payton and Derek Fisher said they preferred a crew that let them have at it.

“Good,” Malone said. “That’d be good.”

Besides, the Lakers shot 28 free throws to the Rockets’ 16, the disparity widening as the Rockets realized O’Neal was going to have issues at the line. Indeed, he shot seven free throws in the fourth quarter.

Shooters shot through fouls and defenders caromed off moving picks and O’Neal was shoved to the floor, by Jackson’s estimate, “probably seven times,” though it was Yao Ming who fouled out. In the last 20 seconds, it was O’Neal who won the game with a rebound and dunk in traffic and Jim Jackson who missed without a defender nearby at the buzzer. Both teams checked for body parts and moved on.

“We think we can play that style of game, but I’m not so sure it’s pleasant, a good way to look at the game of basketball,” Phil Jackson said. “I don’t think it’s benefiting to the NBA to have it that style. We can play that style of game or any style of game. I turned to the staff today and said, ‘I don’t think this game would be allowed against San Antonio. I don’t think you could play this physical.’ But they’ll let our two teams play this physical and not call it.

“We told our team it’s going to be this kind of a series because they’re going to make it this way. I think it’ll be different on Houston’s court. But this particular juncture of this series ... we have to prevail with our style of game a little more than we allow them to prevail with their style.”

Mostly, the Lakers concerned themselves with their shooting. Van Gundy had the Rockets attempt to take away O’Neal on the inside and Bryant on the perimeter, and Malone and Payton were unable to bury the Rockets on their own. Given wide-open looks, Malone was three for 14 from the field. Bryant was four for 19, including one for 11 in the fourth quarter.

As a result, a decent job on the Rockets’ scorers -- Yao, Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley combined for 38 points -- still left the outcome in jeopardy until Jim Jackson hit the rim.

The Lakers had a light practice day, which allowed their wounded to heal. Malone’s ankle, Fisher’s groin, Rick Fox’s thumb, Devean George’s calf, Payton’s back, O’Neal’s knee and Kareem Rush’s foot all improved, and all are expected to play tonight. What they’ll find when they get there is anyone’s guess.

“I have no complaints if that’s the way the game is going to be played,” Phil Jackson said, “but for a person who really likes basketball and likes seeing some nice ball movement, player movement, it really gets mired in pretty quickly. You can take that tape from the league and put it in the garbage.”

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GAME 2 TONIGHT

HOUSTON at LAKERS

7:30; TV: TNT, Fox Sports Net

Lakers lead best-of-seven series, 1-0