Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Kobe Bryant posted 30 points, eight assists and three blocks, and the Los Angeles Lakers used their size advantage down low to beat the Utah Jazz, 111-103, in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series.
Game 2: Lakers Go For 2-0 Series Lead Tonight Against Jazz
Pau Gasol added 22 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers, who took a 2-0 lead in this series, with Game 3 slated for Saturday in Salt Lake City. Los Angeles, which has beaten Utah 16 straight times at home, dominated the rebounding battle, 58-40, and recorded 13 blocks, compared to just four for the Jazz.
Andrew Bynum had 17 points, 14 boards -- 13 in the first half -- and four blocks, as Los Angeles improved to 5-0 at home in the postseason. Lamar Odom contributed with 11 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks, while Ron Artest had 16 points for the Lakers, who are 40-1 all time in series when they take a 2-0 lead.
"We had some great play tonight from our big guys," said Lakers head coach Phil Jackson. "All of them played pretty well. We had good rebounding, we blocked some shots, a lot of guys chipped in. We had 13 blocked shots tonight -- that makes a big difference in the ball game."
Paul Millsap came off the bench to score 26 points and grab 11 rebounds for the Jazz, who have a tough task to prevent the Lakers from eliminating them for the third consecutive season. Carlos Boozer and C.J. Miles each had 20 points, with Boozer providing 12 rebounds in defeat.
Deron Williams added 15 points and nine assists, while Wesley Matthews had 14 points for Utah, which shot just 39.6 percent from the field.
The visitors scored six straight points early in the fourth to get to within 89-83, but Odom answered with a dunk, and, following a Bynum block, Jordan Farmar drained a three-pointer to push the LA lead back to 11 with over nine minutes left.
Utah made a late push, closing to within four, 96-92, after a 7-0 burst with 6 1/2 minutes left, but, similarly to Game 1, the Lakers made a strong defensive stand down the stretch.
Los Angeles scored five straight points -- with Artest capping the stretch by tipping in a rebound -- for a 103-94 lead with 3 1/2 minutes left.
"(Los Angeles') rebounding was...we couldn't handle them," said Utah head coach Jerry Sloan, who was coaching in his 200th career playoff game. "We couldn't keep them from getting the ball on the defensive end. That's just part of basketball. I don't like to use the word 'disheartening' because it makes you sick. I thought our guys played extremely hard to try to get back into the game, then we got anxious in our offense a little bit and took a couple tough shots, and they blocked a couple shots (down) the stretch."
Matthews’ three with 1:15 left got the Jazz to within six, but Millsap’s layup attempt to draw within four was blocked, and Bryant’s two free throws with 38.6 seconds left made it a 109-101 game, essentially sealing the win.
The Jazz got out to a quick 11-4 lead after a pair of Williams three-pointers, but the Lakers answered with a 9-2 run, tying the game at 13-13 on a Gasol basket.
Los Angeles ended the opening quarter on a 9-3 burst to grab a 27-23 advantage, and the Lakers expanded their lead to double-digits in the second.
Leading by five, LA scored nine of 13 points -- five from Bynum -- to take a 41-31 lead, and a pair of easy Bryant buckets made it an 11-point game with seven minutes left.
Utah had only one field goal in the final five minutes of the half, allowing the Lakers to take a 58-46 cushion into halftime.
The Jazz weren’t able to cut into their deficit in the third, never stringing together more than five consecutive points at a time. Bryant’s spin-around move in the final seconds of the period kept the Lakers ahead by 10, 87-77, entering the fourth.
The Jazz are 1-4 on the road in the playoffs this season...Sloan is 98-102 all time in his playoff career...Lakers guard Derek Fisher tied Michael Cooper for fourth on the franchise's all time playoff games played list...Bryant tied Byron Scott for ninth all time in the NBA for playoff games played with 183...Jackson now has 215 postseason wins, most in NBA history and eight behind legendary hockey coach Scotty Bowman for most in professional sports...Despite the disparity in rebounding totals, Utah outrebounded the Lakers on the offensive end, 19-18...The Lakers won despite committing 20 turnovers, compared to only 10 for the Jazz
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