NBA: Houston 107, Los Angeles Lakers 105

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HOUSTON, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Greg Smith netted 21 points and sparked an improbable second-half rally that carried the Houston Rockets past the Los Angeles Lakers 107-105.

Smith came off the bench to put in 17 of his points after halftime as the Rockets erased a 17-point deficit beginning late in the third quarter and then hung on for their fifth victory in six contests.

Smith also pulled down nine rebounds, Toney Douglas provided 22 points and James Harden finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds for Houston, which recorded its sixth straight home win.

The slumping Lakers, meanwhile, fell for the third time in four games despite 39 points from Kobe Bryant.

Dwight Howard supplied 16 points and 12 rebounds for Los Angeles, which was playing without injured stars Pau Gasol and Steve Nash.