Dwight Howard hits Kobe Bryant with an elbow, then jaws at him

LOS ANGELES — So much for the Kobe Bryant vs. Dwight Howard story line going away anytime soon.

And after a 108-90 Houston Rockets win at the Staples Center in the season opener on Monday night that was overshadowed by the fourth-quarter fisticuffs between the former Los Angeles Lakers teammates, they have no one to blame but themselves. As Howard grabbed a rebound and searched for someone to take an outlet pass, Bryant defended him tightly and eventually bore the brunt of the Rockets big man’s left elbow square on the chin.