Photos: Lakers vs. Rockets season opener

Rockets point guard Aaron Brooks is forced to alter his shot, and miss, by Lakers point guard Steve Blake (not pictured) as forward Lamar Odom gives defensive help in the final seconds of the fourth quarter Tuesday night.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Houston center Brad Miller and Lakers point guard Steve Blake battle for a rebound in the closing seconds of their season-opening game Tuesday night.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers center Pau Gasol leaps in an attempt to cut off passing lanes for Rockets point guard Aaron Brooks, who is trying to inbound the ball with 2.5 seconds left in the game Tuesday night   (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Steve Blake reacts after Lakers holds on for a 112-110 win over Houston Rockets in teams season opener on Tuesday night at Staples Center.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Shannon Brown, who came off the bench to score 16 points, reacts after point guard Steve Blake, who finished with 10 points, hit a three-point shot with 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter to give the Lakers the lead.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The Laker Girls point to the Houston bench after center Yao Ming (not pictured) fouled out of Tuesday night’s game at Staples Center after playing only 23 minutes.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Kobe Bryant reacts after teammate Steve Blake hits a clutch three-point shot in the fourth quarter to give the Lakers the lead over Houston on Tuesday night at Staples Center.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Rockets center Yao Ming tries to get a grip on the ball as he’s defended by Lakers center Pau Gasol in the second half of their season-opening game on Tuesday night.   (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guards Kobe Bryant and Shannon Brown chase after a loose ball along with a diving Luis Scola of the Rockets during the teams’ season opener on Tuesday night at Staples Center.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Ron Artest goes for a reverse layup against Rockets center Yao Ming in the season opener for both teams Tuesday night at Staples Center.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers reserve point guard Steve Blake lines up a jump shot against the Houston Rockets in the third quarter Tuesday night.  (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Matt Barnes ends up on the floor after trying to get his hands on a rebound during Tuesday night’s season opener against Houston at Staples Center.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant confers with reserve point guard Steve Blake during the second half of their season-opening victory over Houston on Tuesday night.   (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Lamar Odom tries to keep his balance as he looks for a teammate after beating Rockets center Brad Miller to a rebound. Odom was called for a foul on the play.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers center Pau Gasol tries to drive around Houston center Yao Ming in the first half Tuesday night at Staples Center.   (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant works his way past Rockets guard Courtney Lee for a shot in the second quarter in the season opener Tuesday night at Staples Center.   (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

Houston point guard Aaron Brooks is forced to pass after driving to the basket against the Lakers’ front line of Pau Gasol, Ron Artest and Lamar Odom in the season opener Tuesday night.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Ron Artest has his shot challenged by Houston center Yao Ming in the first half Tuesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers center Pau Gasol dunks before Rockets big men Brad Miller and Luis Scola (4) can react on defense in the first half of Tuesday night’s game at Staples Center.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers center Pau Gasol blocks a shot by Rockets center Brad Miller in the first half Tuesday night. Gasol was called for a foul on the play.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant elevates as he throws a pass against the defense of Rockets guard Kevin Martin (12) and center Brad Miller (52) in the first half Tuesday night.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers center Pau Gasol reacts to a foul called on forward Lamar Odom, who charged into Houston forward Chase Budinger on a drive down the lane in the first half Tuesday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant puts up a shot against Houston’s Shane Battier and Chase Budinger as the shot clock winds down in the first half Tuesday night.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Rockets point guard Aaron Brooks loses control of the ball as he drives past Lakers forward Ron Artest in the first half Tuesday night.   (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant flips a pass to a teammate after driving into the defense of Houston’s Yao Ming and Courtney Lee in the first half Tuesday night.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)