Kobe Bryant drove on Yao Ming in the key, the two collided knee-to-knee and the big Houston Rockets center fell to the court, grabbing his right knee and grimacing in pain.

It sure didn't look good when Yao limped off the court and disappeared into the tunnel.

A few minutes later he was back, waiting at the scorer's table to return to the physical game. Although the Rockets absorbed some hits and shed the most blood, they outmuscled the Los Angeles Lakers 100-92 in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday night.

Yao had 28 points and 10 rebounds, Ron Artest added 21 points and Aaron Brooks had 19 for the Rockets, who are in the second round for the first time since 1997.

Bryant, who finished a distant second to LeBron James in NBA MVP voting announced earlier Monday, scored 32 points, doing his best to keep the Lakers in the game despite missing practice on Sunday with a sore throat. He scored 22 of the Lakers' final 42 points.

Jeffers and Gaines with a non guaranteed for the coming season

In an effort to cut costs, the Miami Heat terminated all of its staff dedicated to selling season-ticket packages for the team

The point guard played for Raptors the Summer League in Las Vegas

The player comes from Denver Nuggets

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• New York Knicks made an offer to Shannon Brown
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• Eddie House agreed to terms with Miami Heat
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• Anthony Tolliver between Warriors and T-Wolves
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