Rockets vs. Lakers

Kobe Bryant missed practice Sunday because of a sore throat, which raised few worries among the Los Angeles Lakers. If anything, it might just mean a little less trash talk between Bryant and Ron Artest when the Lakers host the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday night. The top-seeded Lakers were off a week after eliminating the Utah Jazz in five games and waiting for the fifth-seeded Rockets to finish off Portland in six games. Houston advanced to the second round for the first time since 1997. The most intriguing matchup, of course, will be Bryant, the reigning league MVP, against Artest and Shane Battier.