Game 7 is Sunday in Los Angeles, where the Lakers will be the favorite.

"We still have no chance," said Aaron Brooks, the Rockets guard who scored 26 points. "We'll keep playing, though."

An NBA team is supposed to become successful by surrounding two or three superstars with suitable role players.

But McGrady has missed the entire playoffs with a knee injury. Yao suffered a season-ending hairline fracture to his left foot during Game 3 on May 8.

Yet here they are, 2-1 without Yao in this series, one win from advancement.

Luis Scola, formerly Yao's frontcourt sidekick, outmaneuvered the Lakers Thursday for 24 points and 14 rebounds.

The 5-foot-11-inch Brooks, appointed starting point guard when the Rockets traded Rafer Alston to Orlando on Feb. 19, drove around the Lakers and shot over them. He scored 15 in the second half.

Reserve forward Carl Landry produced 15 points and 9 rebounds, doing most of his work in the second half when the Lakers made a run at the Rockets . Landry hit all six of his shot attempts.

Houston shot 51 percent and committed just 12 turnovers. The Rockets made 18 turnovers in Game 5 on Tuesday. The Lakers converted them into 24 points en route to a 118-78 victory.

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers on Thursday with 32 points, but he hit 11 of 27 shots, a conversion rate acceptable to the Rockets .

Bryant received little help. Pau Gasol, the 7-foot forward-center, scored only 14 points despite an advantage of three to six inches against any Rocket who guarded him.

The Lakers shot 36 percent, hitting 5 of 23 three-point shots.

The Lakers, trailing by 16 at halftime, began the third period with a 16-2 push.

Now they were down just two with the ball in Bryant's hands. But Shane Battier stole the ball from Bryant, Landry made a reverse layup and free throw, and the Rockets were on their way to a nine-point lead after three quarters.

Houston converted its last eight shots of the period.

Brooks made three of those shots, including one of the three three-point baskets he hit in the game.

The Rockets dominated the first quarter Thursday, as they did in Game 4 on Sunday, but this was no replication.

Houston led by 17 Sunday thanks to four three-point baskets in the opening period, three from Battier.

On Thursday, the Rockets missed four of five three-pointers in the first quarter and still managed to lead by 18.

Scola provided the spark this time inside, converting 6 of 9 baskets for 14 points against Gasol.

The Rockets then made four three-point baskets in the second quarter, two by Brooks.

Battier made just one basket in six attempts during the first half Thursday, but he more than compensated on defense, where he excels.

Bryant, guarded primarily by Battier, hit 6 of 16 shots in the half.

When Battier picked up his second foul with 4:54 left in the half, Rockets coach Rick Adelman switched assignments, putting Ron Artest (14 points) on Bryant.

Five seconds later, Battier made a gutsy move, risking his third foul by stepping in front of Bryant as he drove to the basket. Bryant was called for an offensive foul.

Just another big play from a team that doesn't understand the formula for NBA success, the one that requires superstars.