NBA: Los Angeles Lakers 89, Houston 70

LOS ANGELES, May 17 (UPI) -- Pau Gasol led the Los Angeles Lakers to the Western Conference finals Sunday, scoring 21 points and pulling down 18 rebounds in an 89-70 rout of Houston.

The Lakers outrebounded the Rockets 55-33 and ran up first-half leads as much as 25 points.

Los Angeles eliminated Houston 4-3 and will open the conference title series Tuesday against the Denver Nuggets.

Trevor Ariza totaled 15 points, Andrew Bynum scored 14 and Kobe Bryant had 14 points seven rebounds and five assists for the Lakers.

Aaron Brooks scored 13 points and Luis Scola had 11 for Houston.