Jazz-Lakers Preview

By GREG BEACHAM
Posted May 03 2010 8:57PM

LOS ANGELES (AP) Utah coach Jerry Sloan has watched Kobe Bryant's playoff evolution from its inauspicious beginnings.

The Los Angeles Lakers' star guard wouldn't have become a peerless postseason finisher without his performance at the erstwhile Delta Center in 1997, when Bryant spectacularly failed to finish off the Jazz.

The 18-year-old rookie's four infamous airballs late in the final game of that second-round playoff series in Salt Lake City only made Bryant tougher and more determined. Thirteen years later, the calculating veteran makes sure no lead over the Lakers is safe - certainly not the tenuous four-point lead Bryant erased Sunday with a few flicks of his wrist in Game 1 of the clubs' latest playoff clash.

``You're not going to stop Kobe Bryant at this point,'' Sloan said Monday before practice at the Los Angeles Clippers' Playa Vista training complex. ``You can double him and try to make their big guys make a shot, but you just have to play a little harder and hope he'll miss a few. ... He's learned a lot of tricks over the years, a lot of ways to score in a close game. It's a tougher task to defend him than almost anybody.''

Bryant led Los Angeles to a 104-99 win with deceptive ease in the opener, scoring 11 points in the final four minutes. Game 2 is Tuesday night at Staples Center.

Back in 1997, the teenage Bryant - whose shaved head gave him more than a passing resemblance to slain rapper Tupac Shakur - first airballed a mid-range jumper that could have won Game 5 in regulation. Bryant then missed the rim on a 3-point attempt early in overtime before leaving another long jumper far short in the final minute.

He finished by with an airball on a potential tying 3-pointer, which bounced meekly out of bounds in the waning seconds to the delight of a jeering crowd. Coach Del Harris defiantly defended his decision to entrust the Lakers' season to Bryant, saying the teenager already was his team's top late-game performer.

Bryant's finishing skills are well honed now, with his artistic knack for creating outside shots eluding nearly any defender's best efforts. He won a half-dozen games for the Lakers this season on last-second baskets, and he didn't even wait until the final seconds of Game 1 to finish off Utah.

After the Lakers' practice in El Segundo on Monday, Bryant deflected praise for his late-game poise onto Los Angeles' defense, which held the Jazz to one field goal in the final 4:10. Though Bryant must be responsible for most of the Lakers' clutch scoring this season, he sees improvements in other areas for the defending champions.

``It's a different team,'' Bryant said. ``We were much better offensively last year for whatever reason, but we've better defensively this year.''

Utah's efforts to guard Bryant could get a boost if Andrei Kirilenko returns Tuesday from a strained left calf that has prevented him from playing a full game in nearly two months. The Russian forward's wiry frame gives him a chance to stop Bryant, or at least force him to be more creative.

Kirilenko went through a full practice with the Jazz on Monday, and he estimated his chances of playing in Game 2 at ``50-50.''

``He adds a lot of energy to their team,'' Bryant said of Kirilenko. ``He's a very good passer and an emotional defender.''

Kirilenko also could give a boost to Utah's low-post defense, which struggled against Lakers 7-footers Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, who confirmed he's putting off arthroscopic surgery on the small tear in the meniscus of his right knee until after the postseason.

Without Kirilenko and center Mehmet Okur, who's out for the postseason, the Jazz didn't have an inside presence to match the Lakers. Kyrylo Fesenko, the Ukrainian big man filling in for Okur, had just two points in 13 minutes while playing self-acknowledged inadequate defense.

``In the first half, I was kind of thinking, 'Wow, I'm playing here against the Lakers,''' Fesenko said. ``I have a long way to go. I'm not happy with my game. I need to play tougher. I got a little soft in the last couple of games.''

While the Jazz changed their approach, the Lakers stuck to their usual between-games routine, honed by two straight runs to the NBA finals.

Los Angeles focused on getting a better effort out of its reserves, who gave away a lead early in the fourth quarter. Lamar Odom was particularly vocal about needing better communication among the Lakers' bench players on defense.

``I just know we can play a lot better together, just using each other and playing off each other,'' Odom said.

Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Bynum does it all in Lakers' Game 2 win over Jazz

By Bryan Chu, for NBA.com
Posted Wednesday May 5, 2010 3:32AM

LOS ANGELES (NBA.com exclusive) -- With a quick head and shoulder shake, Deron Williams found himself open for what was a wide-open teardrop. But lying in wait was 7-foot center Andrew Bynum, who rejected the shot.

The play epitomized the type of game Bynum had.

He was active. He was spry. He was confident.

Though he played through a tear in the meniscus of his right knee, Bynum had arguably his best postseason game, leading the Lakers to a 111-103 win in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals Tuesday at Staples Center.

"I was pretty comfortable," Bynum said. "especially in the first half, I was very aggressive."

After laboring through the first contest, Bynum cobbled 17 points, 14 rebounds (a playoff-career high) and four blocks in 29 minutes.

"This is the best I've felt coming into the playoffs," said Bynum, who missed the entire 2008 playoffs and limited in the 2009 postseason.

Now holding a 2-0 series advantage, the Lakers have history on their side, sporting a 40-1 record when winning the first two games in a best-of-seven series.

This is the third consecutive postseason Los Angeles, which has won eight straight versus the Jazz at Staples Center, has taken a commanding 2-0 series lead against Utah.

To get back into the series, the Jazz need to take care of home court. In recent memory, Utah has been successful in Game 3's against the Lakers. In 2009, Utah won 88-86, and in 2008, 104-99.

"It's a must win for us," Williams said. "We're a different team at home. A better team. We'll be ready."

The Jazz had their chances down the stretch as the Lakers once again let them get back into the game.

Utah trailed 87-77 heading into the fourth quarter, but it trimmed Los Angeles' deficit to 98-94 with 4:41 left.

"We would've lost this game if we were in Utah and we had that kind of lead," said Bynum, whose team had 20 turnovers, which led to 28 Jazz points. "We have to be much more careful with the basketball."

But in crunch time it was Kobe Bryant who pulled through.

With Williams in his face, Bryant pulled up and sank a long jumper just as the buzzer sounded. For good measure, Bryant threw down a reverse dunk on the next possession to give the Lakers a 107-96 lead.

Bryant finished with a game-high 30 points on 10-for-22 shooting. He was 10-for-11 from the free throw line. This was his third straight 30-plus scoring performance.

"That shot he made, doesn't surprise anybody because he's just that kind of player," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. "You play against him, you don't like to, but you have to certainly admire everything [he's done]."

In the win, Pau Gasol had 22 points and 15 rebounds while Lamar Odom chipped in with 11 and 15, his first double-double of the postseason. Ron Artest also added 16 points and three steals.

"I'm getting better and better as the playoffs kind of go on," Odom said.

The key to the Lakers victory was outrebounding the Jazz 58-40 and the Jazz missing 34 shots in the paint.

"It was tough," Williams said of their size. "Their length does bother us."

After averaging 25.8 points on 49.4 percent shooting and 11.3 assists in the first series against the Nuggets, Williams has yet to find the stroke against the Lakers.

In Tuesday's loss, he recorded a postseason-low 15 points and missed 12 of 16 shots. He did tally nine assists, however.

Paul Millsap was the one bright spot for the Jazz. Millsap had a team-high 26 points on 10-for-17 from the field to go along with 11 rebounds and three steals. In the second quarter, Millsap muscled in 14 of the team's first 17 points. He single-handedly brought the team to within 45-39 with 5:22 to go. Los Angeles, however, used an 11-3 run at the end of the quarter to go up 58-46 at halftime.

Carlos Boozer and C.J. Miles each chipped in with 20. Wesley Matthews had 14 points and four 3-pointers.

The first half was particularly disheartening for the Jazz. They whittled the deficit down to single digits, but wound up down by 12 at halftime.

"We lost our confidence a little bit," Williams said. "We started fighting ourselves. When you look up and you're down 12 in the first half it is frustrating especially a team like this because it's hard to come back."

The Lakers' frontline was a huge reason the Lakers dictated the tempo early in the game.

Bynum bullied Boozer.

The Lakers center, who had 11 points and 13 rebounds in the first half, either backed down and shot over the 6-foot-9 Boozer or he dropped stepped his way to a dunk. Bynum recorded a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds) at the seven-minute mark of the second quarter after recording eight points and 10 rebounds in all of Game 1.

"He was a huge factor," Sloan.

Added Williams: "He's out there playing on one leg and he's doing a great job of it."

While the Lakers' second unit let the Jazz back into the contest in Game 1, Jackson made an adjustment. Instead of giving Bryant his usually four minutes of rest to start the quarter, he started Bryant. Shrewd call. Bryant registered an assist on four of the Lakers' first five possessions of the period, stretching the Lakers' lead from four to 12 points, 39-27.

Despite the loss, Boozer looked at the bright side.

"I felt like we can play better, which is encouraging," he said. "We've had chances to win both games here in LA...This game, we were close. We were right there."

• Jazz: Kirilenko
• Lakers: Vujacic

• Jazz: Boozer
• Lakers: Bryant, Gasol

• Lead Changes: 3
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
• Officials: #48 Scott Foster, #25 Tony Brothers, #33 Sean Corbin
• Attendance: 18997
• Duration: 2:37

Utah Jazz (53-30)		Los Angeles Lakers (58-25)
Start of 1st Quarter
(12:00) Jump Ball Gasol vs Fesenko (Williams gains possession)
Matthews 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Williams (1 AST)	11:39 [UTA 3-0]
	11:19	Artest 3pt Shot: Missed
Fesenko Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	11:18
	11:11	Artest Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Fesenko Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	11:11
Team Rebound	11:11
Fesenko Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	11:11
	11:11	Gasol Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	10:55	Fisher 3pt Shot: Missed
	10:54	Bynum Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	10:47 [LAL 2-3]	Bryant Fade Away Jumper Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Boozer Turnover : Out of Bounds Lost Ball Turnover (1 TO)	10:28
	10:10	Gasol Jump Shot: Missed
	10:09	Bynum Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)
	10:06	Bynum Layup Shot: Missed
Fesenko Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	10:05
Fesenko Layup Shot: Missed	09:59
Boozer Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	09:57
Boozer Tip Shot: Missed	09:56
Fesenko Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	09:55
Fesenko Tip Shot: Missed	09:55
	09:53	Bynum Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)
	09:45	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
Boozer Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	09:44
Williams Layup Shot: Missed	09:31
	09:31	Bynum Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)
	09:13 [LAL 4-3]	Bryant Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Fesenko Dunk Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Williams (2 AST)	09:08 [UTA 5-4]
	08:46	Gasol Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Miles (1 ST)
Williams 3pt Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Miles (1 AST)	08:39 [UTA 10-2]
	08:23	Bryant Layup Shot: Missed Block: Miles (1 BLK)
Boozer Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	08:22
Matthews Layup Shot: Missed	08:21
	08:21	Gasol Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	08:12	Gasol Turnover : Lost Ball (2 TO) Steal:Matthews (1 ST)
Williams 3pt Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Miles (2 AST)	08:03 [UTA 13-2]
Fesenko Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	07:41
	07:41 [LAL 5-11]	Artest Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)
	07:41	Artest Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
	07:41	Team Rebound
Boozer Foul : Loose Ball (1 PF)	07:41
	07:34 [LAL 7-11]	Bynum Slam Dunk Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Bryant (1 AST)
Williams Jump Shot: Missed	07:21
Matthews Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	07:20
Boozer Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Matthews (1 AST)	07:16 [UTA 13-7]
	07:05	Bryant Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Matthews (2 ST)
	07:05	Bryant Foul : Loose Ball (1 PF)
	07:05	Bryant Technical
Matthews Free Throw Technical Missed	07:05
Team Rebound	07:05
Miles Running Jump Shot: Missed	06:54
Matthews Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)	06:53
Williams 3pt Shot: Missed	06:43
	06:42	Bynum Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)
	06:26 [LAL 9-13]	Bynum Dunk Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Bryant (2 AST)
Fesenko Substitution replaced by Millsap	06:10
Millsap Layup Shot: Missed	06:00
Millsap Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	05:59
Millsap Tip Shot: Missed	05:59
Millsap Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)	05:57
Williams Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Artest (1 ST)	05:52
	05:46 [LAL 11-13]	Artest Slam Dunk Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Fisher (1 AST)
Boozer Jump Shot: Missed	05:26
	05:25	Bynum Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)
	05:13 [LAL 13-13]	Gasol Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Boozer Jump Shot: Missed Block: Bryant (1 BLK)	05:00
Williams Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	04:58
Millsap Jump Bank Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Williams (3 AST)	04:54 [UTA 15-13]
	04:45	Team Timeout : Regular
	04:45	Bynum Substitution replaced by Odom
	04:34 [LAL 15-15]	Odom Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Bryant (3 AST)
Boozer Dunk Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Williams (4 AST)	04:18 [UTA 17-15]
	03:52	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
Boozer Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	03:51
Millsap Foul : Offensive (1 PF)	03:42
Millsap Turnover : Foul (1 TO)	03:42
	03:26	Artest 3pt Shot: Missed
Boozer Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	03:25
	03:21	Fisher Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Miles Substitution replaced by Korver	03:21
Williams Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	03:21
Team Rebound	03:21
Williams Free Throw 2 of 2 (7 PTS)	03:21 [UTA 18-15]
	03:03 [LAL 18-18]	Artest 3pt Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Odom (1 AST)
Boozer Layup Shot: Missed Block: Odom (1 BLK)	02:46
Boozer Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)	02:45
Boozer Layup Shot: Missed Block: Gasol (1 BLK)	02:43
Team Rebound	02:43
Team Timeout : Regular	02:43
Boozer Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Millsap (1 AST)	02:40 [UTA 20-18]
	02:25	Gasol Foul : Offensive (1 PF)
	02:25	Gasol Turnover : Foul (3 TO)
Millsap Turnover : Lost Ball (2 TO) Steal:Bryant (1 ST)	02:05
Williams Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	02:04
	02:04 [LAL 19-20]	Fisher Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)
	02:04	Bryant Substitution replaced by Brown
Boozer Substitution replaced by Fesenko	02:04
	02:04 [LAL 20-20]	Fisher Free Throw 2 of 2 (2 PTS)
Fesenko Layup Shot: Missed Block: Brown (1 BLK)	01:49
	01:48	Odom Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
Millsap Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	01:43
Millsap Substitution replaced by Boozer	01:43
	01:43 [LAL 21-20]	Odom Free Throw 1 of 2 (3 PTS)
	01:43	Odom Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
	01:43	Gasol Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	01:35	Artest 3pt Shot: Missed
Boozer Rebound (Off:2 Def:5)	01:33
Williams Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Artest (2 ST)	01:22
	01:18 [LAL 23-20]	Artest Driving Layup Shot: Made (8 PTS)
Boozer Jump Shot: Missed	01:02
	01:01	Brown Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	00:42.5 [LAL 25-20]	Gasol Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Matthews 3pt Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Fesenko (1 AST)	00:31.3 [UTA 23-25]
	00:08.9	Fisher Layup Shot: Missed
	00:08.5	Artest Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	00:08.5 [LAL 27-23]	Artest Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS)
Matthews 3pt Shot: Missed	00:01.9
	00:00.5	Odom Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
End of 1st Quarter
Utah Jazz (53-30)		Los Angeles Lakers (58-25)
Start of 2nd QuarterBack to Top
	11:46 [LAL 29-23]	Bynum Hook Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Odom (2 AST)
Millsap Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Price (1 AST)	11:29 [UTA 25-29]
	11:08	Brown 3pt Shot: Missed
	11:07	Odom Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	11:03	Odom Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Price (1 ST)
Price Layup Shot: Missed	10:56
	10:55	Bynum Rebound (Off:2 Def:5)
	10:42 [LAL 32-25]	Farmar 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Bryant (4 AST)
Korver 3pt Shot: Missed	10:13
Millsap Rebound (Off:3 Def:0)	10:12
Millsap Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS)	10:12 [UTA 27-32]
	10:12	Odom Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Millsap Free Throw 1 of 1 Missed	10:12
	10:11	Odom Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	09:57 [LAL 34-27]	Brown Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Bryant (5 AST)
Miles 3pt Shot: Missed	09:43
	09:42	Bynum Rebound (Off:2 Def:6)
	09:30 [LAL 36-27]	Odom Layup Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Bryant (6 AST)
Team Timeout : Regular	09:23
Korver Substitution replaced by Williams	09:23
Boozer Hook Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Miles (3 AST)	09:12 [UTA 29-36]
	09:01 [LAL 38-29]	Bynum Layup Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Bryant (7 AST)
Boozer Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	09:01
	09:01 [LAL 39-29]	Bynum Free Throw 1 of 1 (9 PTS)
Millsap Layup Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Boozer (1 AST)	08:44 [UTA 31-39]
	08:27	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
	08:26	Bynum Rebound (Off:3 Def:6)
	08:26 [LAL 41-31]	Bynum Putback Dunk Shot: Made (11 PTS)
Miles 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Boozer (2 AST)	08:05 [UTA 34-41]
	07:44	Farmar 3pt Shot: Missed
Boozer Rebound (Off:2 Def:6)	07:43
Boozer Layup Shot: Missed Block: Bynum (1 BLK)	07:32
	07:31	Bryant Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	07:26 [LAL 43-34]	Bryant Driving Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Brown (1 AST)
Boozer Jump Shot: Missed	07:18
	07:17	Odom Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)
	07:13 [LAL 45-34]	Bryant Slam Dunk Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Odom (3 AST)
Team Timeout : Short	07:13
Boozer Substitution replaced by Fesenko	07:13
Williams 3pt Shot: Missed	07:03
	07:02	Bynum Rebound (Off:3 Def:7)
	06:38	Farmar 3pt Shot: Missed
Miles Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	06:34
Price Jump Shot: Missed	06:21
	06:20	Odom Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)
	05:57	Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	05:57
Timeout : Official	05:57
Price Substitution replaced by Matthews	05:57
	05:57	Bynum Substitution replaced by Fisher
	05:57	Brown Substitution replaced by Gasol
	05:57	Farmar Substitution replaced by Artest
Millsap Floating Jump shot: Made (10 PTS)	05:43 [UTA 36-45]
	05:43	Odom Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Fesenko Substitution replaced by Boozer	05:43
Millsap Free Throw 1 of 1 (11 PTS)	05:43 [UTA 37-45]
	05:33	Bryant Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Millsap (1 ST)
Millsap Driving Layup Shot: Made (13 PTS)	05:22 [UTA 39-45]
	05:06	Bryant Layup Shot: Missed
	05:05	Odom Rebound (Off:2 Def:5)
	05:05 [LAL 47-39]	Odom Putback Layup Shot: Made (7 PTS)
Miles 3pt Shot: Missed	04:52
	04:51	Odom Rebound (Off:2 Def:6)
	04:42	Gasol Turnover : Bad Pass (4 TO)
Millsap Jump Shot: Missed	04:33
	04:32	Bryant Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	04:23	Artest 3pt Shot: Missed
	04:22	Gasol Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)
	04:17	Artest Layup Shot: Missed
	04:16	Artest Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)
Williams Foul : Personal (2 PF)	04:14
	04:05 [LAL 49-39]	Gasol Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Fisher (2 AST)
Williams Layup Shot: Missed	03:51
	03:50	Bryant Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	03:46	Artest Layup Shot: Missed
	03:43	Gasol Rebound (Off:3 Def:2)
	03:43 [LAL 51-39]	Gasol Putback Layup Shot: Made (8 PTS)
Miles Jump Shot: Missed	03:22
Millsap Rebound (Off:4 Def:0)	03:22
	03:22	Odom Foul : Shooting (3 PF)
Millsap Free Throw 1 of 2 (14 PTS)	03:22 [UTA 40-51]
	03:22	Odom Substitution replaced by Bynum
Millsap Free Throw 2 of 2 (15 PTS)	03:22 [UTA 41-51]
Boozer Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	03:07
	03:07 [LAL 52-41]	Gasol Free Throw 1 of 2 (9 PTS)
Boozer Substitution replaced by Fesenko	03:07
	03:07 [LAL 53-41]	Gasol Free Throw 2 of 2 (10 PTS)
Matthews Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Artest (3 ST)	02:58
Matthews Foul : Loose Ball (1 PF)	02:58
	02:58	Team Timeout : Regular
Fesenko Foul : Personal (2 PF)	02:52
	02:52	Gasol Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	02:52	Team Rebound
	02:52 [LAL 54-41]	Gasol Free Throw 2 of 2 (11 PTS)
	02:38	Gasol Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Millsap Free Throw 1 of 2 (16 PTS)	02:38 [UTA 42-54]
Millsap Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	02:38
	02:35	Bynum Rebound (Off:3 Def:8)
	02:22 [LAL 56-42]	Artest Driving Layup Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Gasol (1 AST)
Fesenko Jump Shot: Missed Block: Bynum (2 BLK)	02:00
Millsap Rebound (Off:5 Def:0)	01:59
Millsap Tip Shot: Missed	01:59
	01:56	Gasol Rebound (Off:3 Def:3)
	01:48	Bryant Turnover : Lost Ball (3 TO) Steal:Millsap (2 ST)
Miles Driving Layup Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Millsap (2 AST)	01:44 [UTA 44-56]
Miles Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	01:21
	01:21 [LAL 57-44]	Gasol Free Throw 1 of 2 (12 PTS)
	01:21 [LAL 58-44]	Gasol Free Throw 2 of 2 (13 PTS)
Miles Driving Layup Shot: Missed	01:05
Millsap Rebound (Off:6 Def:0)	01:03
Miles 3pt Shot: Missed	00:55.8
Team Rebound	00:55.8
	00:55.8	Fisher Foul : Loose Ball (2 PF)
Fesenko Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	00:55.8
Team Rebound	00:55.8
	00:55.8	Gasol Substitution replaced by Powell
Millsap Substitution replaced by Koufos	00:55.8
	00:55.8	Fisher Substitution replaced by Brown
Williams Substitution replaced by Price	00:55.8
Fesenko Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	00:55.8
	00:55.7	Bynum Rebound (Off:3 Def:9)
	00:45.1	Powell Foul : Offensive (1 PF)
	00:45.1	Powell Turnover : Foul (1 TO)
	00:33.5	Powell Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Miles Free Throw 1 of 2 (6 PTS)	00:33.5 [UTA 45-58]
Miles Free Throw 2 of 2 (7 PTS)	00:33.5 [UTA 46-58]
	00:19.8	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
	00:17.9	Bynum Rebound (Off:4 Def:9)
	00:17.9	Bynum Layup Shot: Missed Block: Fesenko (1 BLK)
Koufos Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	00:09.9
Miles Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Bynum (1 ST)	00:01.2
Fesenko Foul : Personal (3 PF)	00:01.2
	00:01.2	Bynum Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	00:01.2	Team Rebound
	00:01.2	Bynum Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Matthews Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)	00:00.7
End of 2nd Quarter
Utah Jazz (53-30)		Los Angeles Lakers (58-25)
Start of 3rd QuarterBack to Top
	11:42	Bryant Turnover : Double Dribble (4 TO)
Fesenko Hook Shot: Missed	11:24
Team Rebound	11:23
Matthews Jump Shot: Missed	11:10
	11:09	Artest Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)
	10:59 [LAL 60-46]	Bryant Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Artest (1 AST)
Matthews Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	10:59
	10:59 [LAL 61-46]	Bryant Free Throw 1 of 1 (11 PTS)
Boozer Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (10 PTS)	10:40 [UTA 48-61]
	10:21	Artest 3pt Shot: Missed
Williams Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	10:20
Miles Driving Layup Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Williams (5 AST)	10:12 [UTA 50-61]
	09:49 [LAL 64-50]	Fisher 3pt Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Gasol (2 AST)
	09:35	Fisher Foul : Shooting (3 PF)
Williams Free Throw 1 of 2 (8 PTS)	09:35 [UTA 51-64]
Williams Free Throw 2 of 2 (9 PTS)	09:35 [UTA 52-64]
Fesenko Foul : Shooting (4 PF)	09:23
	09:23 [LAL 65-52]	Bynum Free Throw 1 of 2 (12 PTS)
	09:23 [LAL 66-52]	Bynum Free Throw 2 of 2 (13 PTS)
	09:10	Bryant Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Miles Free Throw 1 of 2 (10 PTS)	09:10 [UTA 53-66]
Miles Free Throw 2 of 2 (11 PTS)	09:10 [UTA 54-66]
	08:58 [LAL 68-54]	Gasol Turnaround Fade Away shot: Made (15 PTS) Assist: Artest (2 AST)
Miles 3pt Shot: Missed	08:40
	08:38	Gasol Rebound (Off:3 Def:4)
	08:29	Gasol Turnover : Lost Ball (5 TO) Steal:Miles (2 ST)
Boozer Layup Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Miles (4 AST)	08:19 [UTA 56-68]
	08:19	Gasol Foul : Shooting (3 PF)
Boozer Free Throw 1 of 1 (13 PTS)	08:19 [UTA 57-68]
	08:06	Bryant Turnover : Bad Pass (5 TO) Steal:Miles (3 ST)
Miles Driving Dunk Shot: Made (13 PTS)	08:03 [UTA 59-68]
	07:47 [LAL 70-59]	Bryant Driving Layup Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Fisher (3 AST)
	07:36	Artest Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Williams Free Throw 1 of 2 (10 PTS)	07:36 [UTA 60-70]
Williams Free Throw 2 of 2 (11 PTS)	07:36 [UTA 61-70]
	07:18 [LAL 72-61]	Gasol Turnaround Hook Shot: Made (17 PTS) Assist: Fisher (4 AST)
Fesenko Jump Hook Shot: Missed	07:08
	07:07	Gasol Rebound (Off:3 Def:5)
Williams Foul : Personal (3 PF)	07:03
Fesenko Substitution replaced by Millsap	07:03
	06:44	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
	06:43	Artest Rebound (Off:3 Def:1)
	06:41	Artest Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Millsap (3 ST)
Boozer Layup Shot: Made (15 PTS) Assist: Miles (5 AST)	06:35 [UTA 63-72]
	06:18 [LAL 74-63]	Bynum Hook Shot: Made (15 PTS)
Boozer Jump Shot: Missed	06:04
	06:03	Bynum Rebound (Off:4 Def:10)
Boozer Foul : Shooting (4 PF)	05:50
	05:50	Team Timeout : Regular
Boozer Substitution replaced by Koufos	05:50
	05:50	Bynum Substitution replaced by Odom
	05:50 [LAL 75-63]	Gasol Free Throw 1 of 2 (18 PTS)
	05:50 [LAL 76-63]	Gasol Free Throw 2 of 2 (19 PTS)
Koufos Jump Shot: Missed	05:34
	05:33	Gasol Rebound (Off:3 Def:6)
	05:20	Bryant Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed
	05:18	Artest Rebound (Off:4 Def:1)
	05:17	Artest Layup Shot: Missed
Millsap Rebound (Off:6 Def:1)	05:16
Williams Jump Shot: Missed	05:08
	05:07	Bryant Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
	04:47	Gasol Running Hook Shot: Missed
Matthews Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)	04:46
Williams Driving Layup Shot: Made (13 PTS)	04:41 [UTA 65-76]
Miles Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	04:26
	04:26 [LAL 77-65]	Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (14 PTS)
	04:26 [LAL 78-65]	Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (15 PTS)
Miles Layup Shot: Missed	04:12
	04:11	Odom Rebound (Off:2 Def:7)
	04:03 [LAL 80-65]	Bryant Jump Shot: Made (17 PTS)
Miles 3pt Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Millsap (3 AST)	03:44 [UTA 68-80]
	03:30	Fisher Foul : Offensive (4 PF)
	03:30	Fisher Turnover : Foul (1 TO)
	03:30	Fisher Substitution replaced by Brown
Williams 3pt Shot: Missed	03:18
	03:17	Odom Rebound (Off:2 Def:8)
Miles Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	03:15
	03:15 [LAL 81-68]	Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (18 PTS)
Miles Substitution replaced by Korver	03:15
	03:15	Artest Substitution replaced by Walton
	03:15 [LAL 82-68]	Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (19 PTS)
Matthews 3pt Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Williams (6 AST)	03:01 [UTA 71-82]
	02:43	Bryant Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed
Millsap Rebound (Off:6 Def:2)	02:41
Matthews Driving Layup Shot: Made (11 PTS) Assist: Williams (7 AST)	02:32 [UTA 73-82]
	02:15	Brown Jump Shot: Missed
Matthews Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)	02:13
Matthews Jump Shot: Missed Block: Bryant (2 BLK)	01:54
	01:52	Bryant Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)
	01:51 [LAL 84-73]	Brown Driving Slam Dunk Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Bryant (8 AST)
Millsap Jump Shot: Made (18 PTS) Assist: Williams (8 AST)	01:31 [UTA 75-84]
Koufos Foul : Personal (1 PF)	01:12
Team Timeout : Regular	01:12
	01:12	Gasol Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	01:12	Team Rebound
	01:12 [LAL 85-75]	Gasol Free Throw 2 of 2 (20 PTS)
Williams Jump Shot: Missed	00:51.9
	00:50.8	Odom Rebound (Off:2 Def:9)
	00:44.1	Brown Turnover : Traveling (1 TO)
Koufos Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Williams (9 AST)	00:35.7 [UTA 77-85]
	00:11.2 [LAL 87-77]	Bryant Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (21 PTS)
Koufos Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Walton (1 ST)	00:00.9
	00:00.5	Walton 3pt Shot: Missed
	00:00.0	Team Rebound
End of 3rd Quarter
Utah Jazz (53-30)		Los Angeles Lakers (58-25)
Start of 4th QuarterBack to Top
Price Foul : Offensive (1 PF)	11:45
Price Turnover : Foul (1 TO)	11:45
Millsap Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	11:25
	11:25 [LAL 88-77]	Odom Free Throw 1 of 2 (8 PTS)
	11:25 [LAL 89-77]	Odom Free Throw 2 of 2 (9 PTS)
Korver Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Boozer (3 AST)	11:12 [UTA 79-89]
	10:54	Walton Jump Shot: Missed
Boozer Rebound (Off:2 Def:7)	10:53
Millsap Driving Layup Shot: Made (20 PTS) Assist: Price (2 AST)	10:46 [UTA 81-89]
	10:27	Bynum Turnover : Traveling (1 TO)
Korver Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Boozer (4 AST)	10:15 [UTA 83-89]
	09:55 [LAL 91-83]	Odom Dunk Shot: Made (11 PTS) Assist: Walton (1 AST)
Boozer Layup Shot: Missed Block: Bynum (3 BLK)	09:35
	09:34	Odom Rebound (Off:2 Def:10)
	09:16 [LAL 94-83]	Farmar 3pt Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Brown (2 AST)
Millsap Jump Shot: Missed	08:56
Miles Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	08:55
Boozer Jump Shot: Made (17 PTS) Assist: Miles (6 AST)	08:48 [UTA 85-94]
	08:31 [LAL 96-85]	Bynum Driving Hook Shot: Made (17 PTS) Assist: Walton (2 AST)
Korver Jump Shot: Missed	08:15
Miles Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)	08:14
Miles Tip Shot: Missed	08:14
Price Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	08:12
	08:11	Odom Foul : Shooting (4 PF)
Timeout : Official	08:11
	08:11	Odom Substitution replaced by Gasol
	08:11	Walton Substitution replaced by Bryant
Millsap Free Throw 1 of 2 (21 PTS)	08:11 [UTA 86-96]
Millsap Free Throw 2 of 2 (22 PTS)	08:11 [UTA 87-96]
	08:01	Farmar Reverse Layup Shot: Missed
Boozer Rebound (Off:2 Def:8)	08:00
Korver Jump Shot: Missed	07:45
	07:44	Gasol Rebound (Off:3 Def:7)
Price Foul : Personal (2 PF)	07:41
	07:33	Bryant Turnover : Out of Bounds Lost Ball Turnover (6 TO)
	07:25	Bynum Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Boozer Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	07:25
Team Rebound	07:25
Boozer Free Throw 2 of 2 (18 PTS)	07:25 [UTA 88-96]
	07:08	Farmar Foul : Offensive (1 PF)
	07:08	Farmar Turnover : Foul (1 TO)
Millsap Layup Shot: Made (24 PTS)	06:49 [UTA 90-96]
	06:29	Farmar Driving Layup Shot: Missed Block: Millsap (1 BLK)
Miles Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)	06:27
	06:22	Brown Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Miles Free Throw 1 of 2 (17 PTS)	06:22 [UTA 91-96]
Price Substitution replaced by Williams	06:22
	06:22	Farmar Substitution replaced by Fisher
Miles Free Throw 2 of 2 (18 PTS)	06:22 [UTA 92-96]
	06:04 [LAL 98-92]	Gasol Turnaround Hook Shot: Made (22 PTS)
Boozer Fade Away Jumper Shot: Missed	05:53
	05:50	Gasol Rebound (Off:3 Def:8)
	05:44	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
Williams Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	05:43
Williams Running Layup Shot: Missed Block: Bynum (4 BLK)	05:37
	05:35	Gasol Rebound (Off:3 Def:9)
Miles Foul : Personal (4 PF)	05:34
	05:34	Team Timeout : Regular
	05:34	Bynum Substitution replaced by Odom
	05:27	Jump Ball Bryant vs Millsap (Fisher gains possession)
	05:17	Gasol Turnover : Bad Pass (6 TO)
Miles Driving Layup Shot: Made (20 PTS) Assist: Millsap (4 AST)	05:01 [UTA 94-98]
Millsap Foul : Shooting (4 PF)	04:41
	04:41 [LAL 99-94]	Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (22 PTS)
	04:41 [LAL 100-94]	Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (23 PTS)
Millsap Jump Shot: Missed	04:31
	04:30	Brown Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
Miles Foul : Personal (5 PF)	04:23
	04:23	Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	04:23	Team Rebound
Miles Substitution replaced by Matthews	04:23
	04:23	Brown Substitution replaced by Artest
	04:23 [LAL 101-94]	Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (24 PTS)
Boozer Dunk Shot: Missed Block: Odom (2 BLK)	04:07
	04:04	Fisher Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
Matthews Foul : Personal (3 PF)	04:02
	04:02	Fisher Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	04:02	Team Rebound
Korver Substitution replaced by Miles	04:02
	04:02	Fisher Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
	04:01	Gasol Rebound (Off:4 Def:9)
	03:51	Artest 3pt Shot: Missed
	03:50	Odom Rebound (Off:3 Def:10)
	03:35	Artest Layup Shot: Missed
	03:33	Artest Rebound (Off:5 Def:1)
	03:33 [LAL 103-94]	Artest Tip Shot: Made (14 PTS)
Williams Jump Shot: Missed	03:21
Millsap Rebound (Off:7 Def:2)	03:20
Millsap Tip Shot: Made (26 PTS)	03:20 [UTA 96-103]
	02:55	Gasol Hook Shot: Missed Block: Boozer (1 BLK)
	02:55	Team Rebound
Team Timeout : Regular	02:55
	02:47 [LAL 105-96]	Bryant Jump Shot: Made (26 PTS) Assist: Artest (3 AST)
Williams Running Layup Shot: Missed Block: Bryant (3 BLK)	02:36
Millsap Rebound (Off:8 Def:2)	02:34
Williams 3pt Shot: Missed	02:30
Boozer Rebound (Off:3 Def:8)	02:29
Team Timeout : Short	02:28
	02:28	Double Technical - Gasol, Boozer
Matthews Layup Shot: Missed Block: Odom (3 BLK)	02:26
	02:24	Odom Rebound (Off:3 Def:11)
	02:20 [LAL 107-96]	Bryant Slam Dunk Shot: Made (28 PTS) Assist: Fisher (5 AST)
Williams Driving Layup Shot: Made (15 PTS)	02:07 [UTA 98-107]
	01:45	Gasol Jump Shot: Missed
	01:44	Odom Rebound (Off:4 Def:11)
	01:21	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
Millsap Rebound (Off:8 Def:3)	01:19
Matthews 3pt Shot: Made (14 PTS)	01:15 [UTA 101-107]
	00:56.9	Fisher 3pt Shot: Missed
	00:54.9	Gasol Rebound (Off:5 Def:9)
	00:51.1	Bryant Turnover : Lost Ball (7 TO) Steal:Matthews (3 ST)
	00:51.1	Bryant Foul : Personal (3 PF)
Millsap Reverse Layup Shot: Missed Block: Gasol (2 BLK)	00:44.9
	00:43.5	Gasol Rebound (Off:5 Def:10)
Williams Foul : Personal (4 PF)	00:38.6
	00:38.6 [LAL 108-101]	Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (29 PTS)
	00:38.6 [LAL 109-101]	Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (30 PTS)
Matthews 3pt Shot: Missed	00:32.9
Boozer Rebound (Off:4 Def:8)	00:31.8
Boozer Layup Shot: Made (20 PTS)	00:29.9 [UTA 103-109]
	00:28.3 [LAL 111-103]	Artest Slam Dunk Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Odom (4 AST)
Williams Foul : Offensive (5 PF)	00:23.3
Williams Turnover : Foul (3 TO)	00:23.3
End of 4th Quarter

broadcast information
country		channel			time
usa			TNT	National	10:30 pm ET