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

Kobe Bryant had 26 points Tuesday and the Los Angeles Lakers routed Houston 118-78 to take a 3-2 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series. Pau Gasol finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds, Andrew Bynum scored 14 and Lamar Odom -- whose status had been questionable due to a back injury -- scored 10 and pulled down six rebounds for the Lakers, who can advance to the conference finals with a victory Thursday in Game 6 at Houston. The Lakers rebounded from a one-sided loss in Houston Sunday, when Aaron Brooks scored 34 points and Shane Battier scored 23.

Will Bynum scored eight points in overtime Wednesday and Miami closed out the regular season with a 102-96 decision over Detroit. Both sides rested key players for the upcoming playoffs, but the game turned into an entertaining one with Detroit's Kwame Brown hitting a game-tying layup with 8 seconds to play in the fourth quarter. Bynum then dominated the overtime, backing up a career-high, 26-point performance by Chris Quinn and 22 points from Michael Beasley. Miami rested Dwyane Wade and Detroit played without Richard Hamilton and Antonio McDyess.

Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol combined for 42 points Tuesday, pacing the Los Angeles Lakers to a 125-112 win over Utah to end the regular season for both clubs. The win confirmed that the Lakers and Jazz will face off in Round 1 of the playoffs and that Los Angeles will enjoy home court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs.

Andrew Bynum had 18 points and Kobe Bryant had 16 Sunday, and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame a slow start to rout Memphis 92-75. Pau Gasol finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds and Trevor Ariza scored 12 for the Lakers, who have won six of their last seven games -- and have only the longest shot of finishing with the best regular-season record in the NBA. To get the home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, LA (64-17) needs to win its regular-season finale Tuesday against Utah while the Cleveland Cavaliers (65-15) lose their remaining two games against Indiana Monday and Philadelphia Wednesday. O.J.