Ron Artest is heading to the Los Angeles Lakers, according to various media reports. The free-agent forward told CBSSports.com yesterday that he was leaving the Houston Rockets to join Kobe Bryant and the defending NBA champion Lakers. “I’m definitely going to L.A.—to sign, yeah,“ Artest told CBSSports.com. “Lakers, Lakers, Lakers. I’m in L.A. right now.“

LOS ANGELES—In the end, the Houston Rockets had too much to overcome. Missing two all-stars and facing the top-seeded team in the Western Conference on the road, the Rockets couldn’t compete in Game 7 against the Los Angeles Lakers yesterday. Houston misfired on its first 12 shots, fell behind by 25 points late in the first half and ended the season with an 89-70 loss to the defending Western Conference champions.