Picture Gallery (LADN)

May 7, 2008 - STAPLES CENTER - LOS ANGELES. The Lakers were not distracted by the pre-game ceremony where Kobe Bryant received his first MVP award and built their lead in the first quarter, embraced to it and defeated the Jazz 120-110 to make the Conference Semifinals 2-0 before going to Utah for games 3 and 4.

After 12 years waiting, Kobe Bryant finally got his Most Valuable Player Trophy and later had another of his MVP performances with 34 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Kobe is the 4th Laker to get the award, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar got 3 each and Shaquille O'Neal one.

The Lakers fell behind 13-12 in the first quarter but then Kobe scored six points during a 13-0 run that put them ahead for good. The lead was 33-18 at the end of the period, then 63-49 by halftime and despite L.A. wasn't able to make it bigger, they were never threatened until two free throws by Carlos Boozer with 5:58 to go made it 99-94. But that was as close as the Jazz would get. Sasha Vujacic made a 21-footer, Fisher added one of his 3-pointers and the lead went to 10 again.

Derek Fisher, who continues to be a nightmare for his former teammates, had 22 points that included four 3-pointers in 5 attempts, and in the first half he again had Utah's leader Deron Williams under control, limiting him to 3 points on 1-of-6 shooting. Williams was better in the second half and ended with 25 points and 10 assists.

As always, Pau Gasol was there to do what the team needed and finished with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 blocks, Lamar Odom had another solid and active game with 19 points and 16 rebounds for the Lakers, who shot 57.4 % from the field and made 35 free throws, 22 more than the Jazz. The team did a better job on the boards this time, losing by a more respectable 41-37 after being completely dominated in game 1.

Carlos Boozer, who is supposed to be a key player for Utah continues with his bad performance in these playoffs, falling from 21.1 points a game and 54.7% shooting in the regular-season to playoff numbers of 15.1 points a game and 41.8%. He got into foul trouble early in the game again and finished with 10 points and 5 rebounds.

Now the Lakers will play 2 games in Utah, where the Jazz had a home record of 37-4 during the season, the best in the NBA, but the Phil Jackson's team did good there in March 20 with a win 106-95 that ended Utah's 19-game home winning streak that had tied the franchise record.