| April 19 - STAPLES CENTER - LOS ANGELES.Kobe Bryant scored 24 points and had 8 assists, Trevor Ariza added 21 points and Pau Gasol 20 as L.A. defeated the Utah Jazz 113-100. Everything was easy for the Lakers at the beginning and they took a 22-point lead to the halftime. Utah returned to play the third quarter with a better energy. In the second half they closed the gap to 9 points at various times. But the Lakers always had the appropriate answer and Kobe as usual put the finishing touches to the victory. The Jazz got to 89-98 with 5:43 left but Kobe scored the next 4 points. When the Jazz got close again 98-107 Kobe had a three-point play when he dunked on Paul Milsap and made a free throw. Then he got a rebound and assisted Ariza for a three-pointer that gave the Lakers a 113-98 lead The Lakers had foul issues all game with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum both picking their 4th fouls in the third quarter. Bynum picked his fifth 55 seconds into the fourth and finished with just 7 points and 3 rebounds in 20 minutes. Carlos Boozer had 27 points and nine rebounds for Utah and Deron Williams added 16 points and dished 17 assists for the Jazz. Phil Jackson is 47-1 in playoff series when his teams hold a series lead of any kind. But everybody remembers the "1" which was when the Lakers lost a 3-1 advantage against Phoenix three years ago. |
