By Mike Bresnahan
Los Angeles Times
Nothing comes easy for the Lakers these days, not even a game against the injury-racked Houston Rockets.
The Lakers missed their last seven shots and lost, 109-99, experiencing their first four-game losing streak since trading for Pau Gasol in February 2008.
Lamar Odom had a season-high 25 points Wednesday but the Lakers couldn't hold off the Rockets at Toyota Center and also ran into new questions about Gasol's fatigue level.
Gasol headed to the locker room near the end of the third quarter because of what a team official called "hamstring issues." He returned a few minutes into the fourth quarter but had only eight points on two-for-eight shooting.
After two less-than-accurate games, Kobe Bryant had 27 points on 10-for-24 shooting. He also had four assists and four steals.
Rockets guard Kevin Martin missed all seven of his first-quarter shots and was benched for most of the second quarter but was more effective in the second half and finished with 22 points. Shane Battier surprised the Lakers with 11 points in the fourth quarter, including back-to-back three-pointers from the right side.
The Rockets (6-12) were already hit hard by injuries this season and were again without center Yao Ming (bruised left ankle) and point guard Aaron Brooks (sprained left ankle).
The Lakers fell to 13-6.
mike.bresnahan@latimes.com
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