Kobe Bryant scored 31 points, including 13 in the final six minutes, and the Los Angeles Lakers captured Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series with a 104-99 victory over the Utah Jazz.
Kobe Beefs Up Late, Lakers Comeback To Beat Jazz 104-99 In Game 1
Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) – Kobe Bryant scored 31 points, including 13 in the final six minutes, and the Los Angeles Lakers captured Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series with a 104-99 victory over the Utah Jazz.
Bryant went 12-of-19 from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line for the Lakers, who have beaten Utah 15 straight times at Staples Center, including playoff contests. This is the third consecutive season these two teams have met in postseason play, with Los Angeles taking each of the last two series.
Read Article >Lakers Blog: The Victory That Almost Wasn’t...But Then Was
“Killer instinct” and “focus.” Expect to hear those words a lot over the next couple days in terms of whether or not the Lakers possess those things in adequate quantities, which is why a 14-point lead against the Utah Jazz today fell apart and became a three-point deficit. Of course, as Laker blog Silver Screen And Roll points out, that three-point deficit quickly disappeared and became a five-point win.
Read Article >Game 1, 3:30 P.M.: Jazz Meet Lakers In Second Round
Preview courtesy of Sports Network.
It’s rare that an NBA team breathes a sigh of relief when they move on in the postseason to face a club that, on paper, should be a tougher matchup.
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