to spend the next 10-plus years of their lives.

LOS ANGELES -- After just two practices and two games together, Kobe Bryant already can see Mike DAntonis ideas and schemes improving the Los Angeles Lakers. Although a triple-double isnt usually part of Bryants game plan, he happily picked it up along with another win for a team that has been revitalized before their new coach has even taken the court. Bryant had 22 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for his 18th career triple-double, and the Lakers ran past the Houston Rockets 119-108 Sunday night for their fourth victory in five games since firing coach Mike Brown. Dwight Howard had 28 points and 13 rebounds, and Pau Gasol scored his 15,000th career point among his 17 as the Lakers returned to .500 by running away from their second straight opponent since DAntoni took over their practices. Although DAntoni and his surgically replaced knee havent even appeared on Los Angeles bench yet, his new team is already playing with passion and fluidity it hadnt showed during a miserable start to the season. "Were just picking apart the defence," said Bryant, who also had three of Los Angeles 10 steals. "Were putting the defence in predicaments where they have to choose, and were making them pay." DAntoni watched his second straight game from the Lakers locker room while interim coach Bernie Bickerstaff ran the bench. DAntoni decided earlier Sunday to delay his debut, giving him at least a few more days to recover from surgery. Bickerstaff improved to 4-1 while filling in for Brown and DAntoni, who announced the longtime NBA coach and executive will remain on his staff -- as long as the Lakers beat Houston, DAntoni joked. Bickerstaffs job is secure after the Lakers ran away from the Rockets in the second half. From Bryants sharp passes to Howards rim-rocking, two-handed slams, Los Angeles played with flair, even while point guard Steve Nash missed his eighth straight game with a small fracture in his leg. "Every day, theres a little more" of DAntonis system in the Lakers, Bickerstaff said. "Its best to do a few things well and get it down, because all of those things, they have options off them." The Lakers already are running a significant portion of DAntonis playbook, and it showed in a second straight free-flowing victory for a team that followed an 0-8 preseason with a 1-4 start, leading to Browns dismissal just nine days ago. The Lakers scored 114 points while beating Phoenix two days ago. Chandler Parsons scored 24 points and James Harden had 20 for the Rockets, who have lost six of eight. Coach Kevin McHale missed his fourth straight game during a leave of absence to deal with a family matter. "Its tough, man. Thats our leader," Parsons said. "We cant do much except pray for his family and him, and hope he comes back soon. We love playing for him. But at the same time, Coach Sampson has done a good job. We have the same offence, same system, same principles on defence. So its not like were a different team. We still need to be playing a lot better, so theres no excuse." Darius Morris scored a career-high 12 points for the Lakers while doing a decent defensive job on Jeremy Lin, who had 10 assists but just five points on 2-of-9 shooting. Lin visited with DAntoni after the game, recalling their remarkable few months together last season in New York. "Hes the ultimate players coach, very similar to Coach McHale," Lin said. "I think he just gets it. He knows how to get the most out of his players. Theyll be just fine. What you saw tonight, theyll probably be able to do pretty consistently, in terms of moving the ball and spacing. And with Dwight Howard down low, its tough because he has that whole key to roam in." With an offensive rebound with 5 1/2 minutes to play, Bryant recorded his first triple-double since Nov. 3, 2010, at Sacramento. The NBAs fifth-leading career scorer was in top form, breaking down defenders and hitting acrobatic shots with the flair of his best games. But Bryant doesnt have to win games by himself, and the rest of the Lakers were sharp as well. Howard attacked the basket relentlessly while his teammates set him up for high-percentage shots, and Metta World Peace contributed 15 points. With a smooth jumper in the second half, Gasol became the 10th foreign-born player and the first Spaniard to score 15,000 NBA points. The four-time All-Star has won two titles with the Lakers, and the Staples Center fans gave him an ovation when his achievement was announced. "I think its something to be proud of," said Gasol, who joins a list of foreign-born scorers including Nash, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dirk Nowitzki and Dominique Wilkins. "Im happy to reach this milestone, but I want to continue to be as productive as Ive been throughout my career." NOTES: Houston concludes its three-game trip Monday at Utah. ... Shortly after DAntoni confirmed Bickerstaff is staying with the team, the Lakers formally announced Dan DAntoni will join the staff as an assistant. Mike DAntonis older brother has been in practice with the Lakers since Thursday. ... Houston C Omer Asik left the game in the first half with a cut over his right eye, but returned for the second half after getting five stitches. [url=http://www.ussoccerteamshopjersey.com/alejandro-bedoya-world-cup-jersey.html]Alejandro Bedoya World Cup Jersey[/url] . His teammates saw it differently, so they didnt pass up a chance to razz the All-Star slugger when he got back to the bench. [url=http://www.ussoccerteamshopjersey.com/graham-zusi-world-cup-jersey.html]Graham Zusi World Cup Jersey[/url] . The worst defensive game by the Pittsburgh Pirates in more than a quarter century gave the struggling Chicago Cubs pitcher all the help he needed. [url=http://www.ussoccerteamshopjersey.com/claudio-reyna-world-cup-jersey.html]http://www.ussoccerteamshopjersey.com/claudio-reyna-world-cup-jerse...[/url] . -- As it turns out, there is nothing boring about a victory at golfs third-oldest championship. [url=http://www.ussoccerteamshopjersey.com/brad-guzan-world-cup-jersey.html]Brad Guzan USA Jersey[/url] . Le" event taking place at the Venetian Resort Hotels Cotai Arena. Franklin, who was fighting at middleweight for the first time since 2008, looked comfortable until the end, darting in and out of range with kicks and punches and looking the quicker fighter. [url=http://www.ussoccerteamshopjersey.com/clint-dempsey-world-cup-jersey.html]Clint Dempsey Jersey[/url] . Buchholz shook off a rocky start to earn his 11th win, Dustin Pedroia singled in the tiebreaking run in the sixth inning and the Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 Thursday night to avoid a three-game sweep.The free agent market is in virtual gridlock waiting for Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to announce where they intend to spend the next 10-plus years of their lives. Both players have been bombarded with mega-term, mega-million dollar offers, so the decision now comes down to where each player wants to be, and believes he has the best chance of winning a Stanley Cup. This isnt just a waiting game, its a game of dominos. The most impacted player by this process is Columbus Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash, who sits quietly on the sidelines waiting for a trade, a deal that Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson thinks will bring a premium return once those teams who fail to land Parise are identified. The New York Rangers, Detroit Reed Wings and Philadelphia Flyers stand as the top three Nash trade targets, although Carolina, a club not originally on Nashs list, may be intriguing enough for the star forward to consider expanding the list of teams hes willing to go to.dddddddddddd The San Jose Sharks are also on the list, but, they will not make a deal if Logan Couture has to be included, so they remain somewhat of a long-shot. There is no doubt Nash is growing frustrated by a process that dates back to January. However, Howson is counting on a bidding war and the only way to test that theory is to wait for the trade offers once Parise is out of the mix. It might be the most expensive game of dominos the National Hockey League has ever seen. ' ' '