LOS ANGELES — Another rough-and-tumble game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets turned bloody. This time, though, the Lakers defended their home court.

Kobe Bryant scored 40 points, Pau Gasol added 22 points and 14 rebounds and the Lakers won Game 2, 111-98, last night to even the Western Conference semifinal series.

Ron Artest, one of two players ejected in the game, scored 25 points and Carl Landry added a career playoff-high 21 points for the Rockets, who overcame a 14-point deficit in the first half only to trail most of the second half.

Emotions boiled over in the second half, with Derek Fisher of the Lakers and Artest getting ejected and technical fouls assessed to Bryant, Artest, Luis Scola, Luke Walton and Lamar Odom.

"It's the playoffs," Bryant said, "this is what it's about."

CELTICS 112, MAGIC 94:

Rajon Rondo had 15 points, 18 assists and 11 rebounds for his third triple-double of the playoffs, and Eddie House scored a career-high 31 points, leading Boston over Orlando to even the Eastern Conference semifinals.

"He picked up where he left off last game," House said of Rondo. "He had a lot of energy on both ends of the court."