Kobe Bryant got 41 points to help the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 103-102 in overtime period on Wednesday night.

The Rockets had taken their first meeting with the Lakers since last season's Game 7 -- and since Trevor Ariza and Ron Artest traded themselves for one another.

The Rockets had plenty to lament before Ariza's last-second turnover, from the fourth quarter when they led by four, heading to the last 1:33, to the overtime, when they made just 4 of 12 shots and repeatedly sent the Lakers to the line.

"I thought we should have won," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "I thought we had a great chance of winning. I thought we should have won, but things happen."

Andrew Bynum made three successive free throws for the Lakers in the extra session, including one that broke a 102-102 tie with 24 seconds remaining.

Bynum finished with 17 points and 17 rebounds while the balanced Rockets had six players scoring 10 or more points, with Carl Landry leading the home team with 20. Chuck Hayes of the Rockets scored 14 points on 7 of 9 shooting to go with 14 rebounds.

Former Rockets' forward Ron Artest scored 15 points for the Lakers.