HOUSTON, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Shane Battier scored 11 points over the final 3 minutes Wednesday, allowing the Houston Rockets to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 109-99.
The Lakers, who lost just twice in their first 15 games, have dropped four in a row.
Battier made back-to-back 3-pointers to put Houston in front for good, hit another jumper and then made three free throws after he was fouled putting up another long-range shot. He scored 17 points overall.
Kevin Martin paced Houston with 22 points and Louis Scola had 14. The Rockets had lost their previous three meetings with the Lakers.
Kobe Bryant scored 27 points for Los Angeles, but hit just 10-of-24 shots. It is the first four-game losing streak for the Lakers in four seasons.
Lamar Odom contributed a season-best 25 points for Los Angeles, which missed its last seven attempts from the field. Houston closed the game on a 15-4 run.
