March 5 (Reuters) - Basketball-mad Philippines will experience live NBA for the first time in October when twice champions the Houston Rockets meet the Indiana Pacers in a pre-season fixture as part of a global schedule of games announced on Tuesday. The clash on Oct. 10 will be the first pre-season game to be held in southeast Asia and the Philippines, who top the list of countries following the NBA on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter outside the United States.

Washington, Feb 18 (EFE).- The legendary owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, Jerry Buss, died Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the Los Angeles Times said. He was 80. Buss, who was suffering from cancer, passed responsibility for the NBA team's operations to his son Jim in 2011, while his daughter Jeanie took charge of all the Lakers' business activities.

Derek Fisher, who won five NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers, has signed a contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the club announced on Monday. The 38-year-old Fisher played nine games for the Dallas Mavericks earlier this season before being released in December. He also had a previous stint with the Thunder playing 40 games last year after signing as a free agent in March. Fisher was traded by Los Angeles to Houston at the trading deadline last year but never played for the Rockets. He was bought of his contract and joined the Thunder for their stretch run.

Kobe Bryant scored 29 of his 40 points in the second half Friday as the Los Angeles Lakers capped an emotional week with a much-needed 111-107 NBA victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Bryant added seven rebounds and two steals for the Lakers, who have won seven of their last 10 games and stand 3 1/2 games behind the Houston Rockets for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference standings. In an interview with Sports Illustrated published this week, Bryant said he was certain the Lakers would make the playoffs.