By MATT BEARDMORE
STATS Writer

Los Angeles (2-1) at Houston (3-1), 8:30 p.m. EDT

Ron Artest left the Houston Rockets to sign with a Los Angeles
Lakers team he felt gave him the best chance to finally win a
ring.

Houston, though, is now playing at a high level without Artest
and two other superstars - and with former Laker Trevor Ariza.

Artest returns to the Toyota Center on Wednesday night, when Los
Angeles faces the Rockets for the first time since the teams'
seven-game series in last season's Western Conference
semifinals.

Acquired in a trade with Sacramento prior to 2008-09, Artest
averaged 17.1 points and 5.2 rebounds as the Rockets went 53-29
and advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first
time in 12 seasons.

Houston won Game 1 of the West semifinals in Los Angeles, but
fell to the Lakers in seven.

"I thought it was a good learning experience for these guys,"
Artest said following the Rockets' 89-70 Game 7 defeat at
Staples Center on May 17. "They've been through a Game 7. Most
young teams get swept. That will really help the Rockets in the
future."

Artest, though, ultimately decided not to be a part of that
future by signing a five-year, $33 million deal with the
defending champion Lakers.

"This was a long time coming," he said. "As I started to compete
against the Lakers and against Kobe (Bryant), I had respect for
him and I always wanted to be a teammate of his."

Playing their first road game of the season Tuesday, the Lakers
(3-1) defeated Oklahoma City 101-98 in overtime.

Artest scored a season-high 20 points, while Andrew Bynum posted
his third double-double of the season with 22 and 10 boards. The
star of the night, though, was Bryant, who had 31 points while
battling flulike symptoms. The Lakers' star hit the go-ahead
jumper in overtime and a pair of free throws with 18 seconds
remaining.

"When Kobe's out there, he wants it," Artest said. "That's the
great thing. He wants it. It's not like I have to really go get
it."

Bryant averaged 28.3 points on 53.0 percent shooting as Los
Angeles won all four regular-season matchups versus Houston in
2008-09.

Ariza, who scored 11.3 points per game and shot 47.6 percent
from 3-point range during the Lakers' 2008-09 playoff run,
signed with Rockets in the offseason to help minimize the loss
of Artest.

"I think (Houston is) the best place for me," Ariza said over
the summer. "I think I have more of an opportunity here."

He's making the most of that opportunity thus far, averaging a
team-high 21.3 points.

Playing without Artest, Yao Ming - out for the season following
foot surgery - and Tracy McGrady (microsurgery on left knee),
the Rockets have won three straight since a 96-87 season-opening
loss at Portland.

"When you lose your star players, people don't expect very much
from you but we've had the attitude that we're going to play
hard, compete and we're going to see what we can do with this
group," coach Rick Adelman told the Rockets' official Web site.

Adelman has started 6-foot-6 Chuck Hayes at center each game,
but the undersized Rockets have compensated by shooting 44.8
percent from 3-point range.

"We have good shooters on this team, so we're going to be really
aggressive," said Shane Battier, who hit three of the Rockets'
10 3-pointers in Monday's 113-96 victory at Utah.

Ariza, Aaron Brooks and Chase Budinger each hit two from long
range, and Budinger finished with a career-high 17 points.

The rookie also rolled his ankle in Monday's victory, but is
expected to be available Wednesday.

Lakers forward Pau Gasol worked out prior to Tuesday's game, but
has still not played this season due to a strained right
hamstring.