Lakers-Rockets provide must-see TV and more sports from last night

Bobby Bonett, Digital First Media

Posted: 11/19/2012 07:07:35 AM PST

Updated: 11/19/2012 11:12:25 AM PST

View the story "Must-see TV in L.A. and more sports from last night" on StorifyMust-see TV in L.A. and more sports from last nightA roundup of the stories you missed while you were sleeping. (Nov. 19, 2012)Storified by Digital First Media · Mon, Nov 19 2012 07:08:59

If you didn't watch the Lakers-Rockets game last night, you missed a lot

Sunday night offered plenty of intriguing late-night TV options. Dexter and Homeland aired on Showtime. The Ravens played the Steelers in an AFC showdown. WWE's Survivor Series pitted John Cena, CM Punk and Ryback against one another in a triple-threat match. But it was an early-season NBA game that ended up being the night's most gripping television. Here's a quick recap to catch you up to speed.ApexchangeWith Mike D'Antoni in attendance (though not on the sidelines), the Lakers opened up their game against the Rockets in a way the offensive-minded coach would approve of -- a 40-point

first-quarter outburst, and an 11-point lead.I am loving this up-tempo Lakers offense. 40 points in 1st quarter, 70% in the first 12 minutes! Welcome to the #DAntoni era!Chris ManningLike I said, the Lakers are going to be ridiculously fun to watch. 40 points in the 1st quarter. Imagine when Nash is backPeppermint ButlerIn the second quarter, Terrence Jones put Jodie Meeks on a poster, throwing down a huge dunk in transition.Rookie Terrence Jones' MEGA slam!nbaMetta World Peace earned a technical foul for nearly decapitating Jeremy Lin with an elbow early in the third.Metta World Peace "inadvertent" elbow to Jeremy LinRocketsRedPau Gasol reached a significant career milestone a few seconds later.Pau Gasol scores his 15,000th career point on a jumper, becoming the 10th foreign born player in NBA history to reach the plateau.NBAKobe Bryant reminded America why he is better at basketball than the rest of us with this and-one from the corner:KobeWhatTheWhathardwoodparoxysm09Bryant later notched his 18th career triple-double, and finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.ApexchangeAnd the Lakers finished with a season high in points, beating the Rockets 119-108 to improve to 5-5. So what does that mean? Jack Nicholson is happy.ApexchangeThe Bernie Bickerstaff era may have also come to an end with the win, as D'Antoni will reportedly make his debut Tuesday against the Nets.

Ravens beat team dressed as 'No Rain' extras

Naturally, in a hard-nosed match-up between two of football's biggest rivalries, a team's uniform took center stage.ApexchangeThe Steelers, dressed like the girl from Blind Melon's "No Rain" video -- or was it just 1934 throwbacks? -- came up short in their bid to tie the Ravens atop the AFC North, losing 13-10.ApexchangeByron Leftwich scored the team's only touchdown on a 31-yard run 43 seconds into the game, but he finished just 18-for-39 passing for 201 yards and an interception.Steelers QB Byron Leftwich: lost 7 straight starts at quarterbackESPN Stats & InfoJacoby Jones was the hero for the Ravens, bringing back a punt 63 yards for a score late in the first quarter. The touchdown put the Ravens ahead for good, 10-7, and provided us this dance:GawkerassetsGIF via DeadspinJoe Flacco finished 20-for-32 for 164 yards for the 8-2 Ravens. Ray Rice was held to just 40 yards on 20 carries.ApexchangeThe Steelers fell to 6-4 with the loss, tied for the first AFC wild card spot with the Colts.

It's Notre Dame and everyone else in the BCS standings

The BCS standings were released last night. To nobody's surprise, Notre Dame is on top.ApexchangeAlabama, Georgia and Florida occupy spots two-through-four, followed by last week's top two teams, Oregon and Kansas State. LSU is seventh, giving the SEC four teams in the top seven.ApexchangeThe three SEC teams behind Notre Dame all play next Saturday. Georgia is home for Georgia Tech, Alabama hosts Auburn, and Florida hits the road to take on No. 10 Florida State.Also worth mentioning, if Notre Dame loses to USC and Florida beats Florida State it's an all SEC title game again.Clay TravisNotre Dame will reportedly avoid facing Matt Barkley in their match-up with USC Saturday night, who won't play due to injury. Max Wittek will start for the Trojans.

Your daily Andrew Bynum multimedia

Last week, it was the hair. This week, it is a bowling GIF, courtesy gotemcoach.com.Blacksportsonline

You should also read . . .

The L.A. Galaxy earned a rematch with the Houston Dynamo in the MLS Cup.AJ Barker quit the Minnesota football team in a scathing, public letter to head coach Jerry Kill. The letter is in its entirety (including colorful language) on a Tumblr page created by Barker.Ichiro Suzuki and Hiroki Kuroda will skip the 2013 World Baseball Classic.UConn held off Quinnipiac 89-83 in double-overtime.Minnesota Timberwolves guard Brandon Roy will undergo surgery on his right knee this week.Rob Gronkowski reportedly broke his forearm during the Patriots' 59-24 win over the Colts. He could miss up to six weeks.Miami has self-imposed a bowl ban for the second straight season.The owners of Nets.com continue to troll fans of the Brooklyn Nets.Kevin Durant notched his first career triple-double in a 119-109 win over the Warriors.Samantha Gordon, a nine-year-old football phenom, was on NFL Gameday yesterday morning, and delivered this "hit" on Marshall Faulk. (GIF courtesy Buzzfeed.)Buzzfed

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