FIRST LOOK

No. 2 LAKERS (56-26) vs. No. 7 HOUSTON ROCKETS (45-37)

The game’s most-analyzed one-on-one matchup is a telestrator’s dream: Shaquille O’Neal vs. Yao Ming. They essentially played to a draw in four regular-season games, Yao getting the early edge but O’Neal playing better in their most recent meeting. It will be tough to look past the paint and to the periphery, but the Rockets have given the Lakers problems with guards Cuttino Mobley and Steve Francis.

A closer look at the matchups:

FRONTCOURT

Yao has become much more consistent in his second season. Swingman Jim Jackson can still shoot from the perimeter, and Kelvin Cato and Clarence Weatherspoon will be thrown at O’Neal as needed. Former Clipper Maurice Taylor is better than last season, when he averaged only 8.4 points, but he doesn’t play nearly as big of a role in Houston as he did with the Clippers.

BACKCOURT

Francis (sprained wrist, inflamed elbow) and Mobley (bruised shoulder) sat out the Rockets’ last two games, although it would be hard to envision them missing Saturday’s game. Eric Piatkowski, another former Clipper, dipped to a career-low 4.1 points per game, but he is still dangerous from three-point range.

HEAD TO HEAD: Series tied, 2-2

* Dec. 25 at Staples Center: Rockets 99, Lakers 87. Unhappy holidays: Shaq-Yao was basically a draw, but the Rockets’ guards did in the Lakers. Francis had 22 points, Mobley had 15, and the Lakers got outscored in the fourth quarter by 10.

* Feb. 11 at Toyota Center: Rockets 102, Lakers 87. Advantage: Yao. Twenty-nine points and 11 rebounds overshadowed O’Neal’s 24 on five-for-12 shooting. Francis and Mobley again hurt the Lakers with 21 points each.

* March 3 at Toyota Center: Lakers 96, Rockets 93. Yao outscored O’Neal, 33-28, but Kobe Bryant had 18 points and a season-high 13 assists to tilt the score in the Lakers’ direction. The Lakers outscored the Rockets in the fourth quarter by 12.

* April 1 at Staples Center: Lakers 93, Rockets 85. O’Neal scored 18 and regained the big-man edge by holding Yao to six points on three-for-15 shooting. Yao did not take an offensive rebound and had half as many personal fouls -- three -- as points.

* Last playoff meeting between the teams: The Lakers defeated Houston, 3-1, in the first round of the 1999 playoffs. The Lakers were swept in the next round by the San Antonio Spurs.

* Fast fact: The Rockets and Lakers have split six playoff series. The Lakers won in 1990, 1991 and 1999 and Houston won in 1981, 1986 and 1996.