Game 1 (Final) Lakers 104, Jazz 99
Is Kobe Bryant back to form?
You would be hard-pressed to dispute that contention as he took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 of the Lakers' 23 points to give the Lakers a 104-99 victory over the Utah Jazz. The Lakers now hold a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal playoff series. The next game is Tuesday night at the Staples Center.
The Lakers looked dominant for most of the game until the Jazz rallied with a 10-1 run at the start of the fourth quarter. At one point, the Jazz had a three-point lead.
But the Lakers were able to wear them down, mostly behind the leadership and shooting of Bryant, who scored 31 points on 12-of-19 shooting from the field and a perfect seven of seven from the free-throw line.
Pau Gasol also had a good game for the Lakers with 25 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shot. Derek Fisher had 10 points, four assists and a game-high five steals, while Lamar Odom finished with nine points and 12 rebounds.
Deron Williams led the Jazz with 24 points and eight assists, followed by Carlos Boozer with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Both C.J. Miles and Paul Millsap had 16 points.
Laker Coach Phil Jackson recognized that the game was slipping from his team's control and that they needed to regain their advantage.
"We found a way to get the momentum back in the last six minutes of the game. . . . I thought our bench really let us down [at the start of the] fourth quarter. The types of shots they gave up and the charge they gave us."
But Jackson did not think he stuck with the secondary players too long.
"Absolutely not," he said when asked if he kept the reserves in too long. "You have to give them some confidence. I wanted to give them an opportunity to right themselves."
Of course, Jackson was quick to give praise to Bryant.
"I thought he put [the game] on his shoulders. He got into some foul trouble and had to spend some time on the bench and we had to get him back in the game."
Meanwhile, Gasol said the team took some energy and momentum from the Oklahoma City series, which ended on Friday.
He also credited the team's size advantage.
"It's important to us," Gasol said. "We use it to our advantage and I think we're doing better at it."
Game 1 (Fourth quarter, 2:26): Lakers 100, Jazz 95
Before a timeout, Derek Fisher was assessed a charging foul and the Jazz had a chance to regain the lead with a little more than two minutes to play. But the Jazz missed, followed by a Laker miss and another Jazz miss, and the Lakers were looking to up their advantage.
Of course, that's where Kobe Bryant stepped up and made a two -- giving him 27 points -- and the Lakers were up by three. On the next possession, Lamar Odom fouled Deron Williams and he made both free throws to make it a one-point game again.
Down the court, Bryant missed a fade away but Odom got the put-back and the Lakers' lead was three. After a takeaway, the Lakers drove down the court, with Bryant taking the ball down the lane for a hanging layup, and the Lakers had a five-point lead.
If Ralph Lawler's adage is correct (first one to 100 wins), then the Lakers are looking good.
Game 1 (Fourth quarter, 2:18) Lakers 94, Jazz 93
Pau Gasol tied the score with a free throw but the Jazz took the lead back when Paul Millsap drove the lane and scored.
Kyle Korver then became the first player on either side to get into foul trouble when he fouled Kobe Bryant for his fifth. Bryant answered with both free throws to tie the score.
After a hard foul by Ron Artest, C.J. Miles made both free throws and it was advantage Jazz. Bryant then missed on a driving layup but Lamar Odom got the follow for a dunk.
Miles then easily made a shot and Wesley Matthews followed with a basket ,and suddenly the Jazz were up by four and it was certainly nervous time.
Bryant was fouled by Miles on the next possession and Bryant sank both free throws for 22 points. The Lakers needed a defensive stop and got it and Bryant responded with a two followed by a foul shot and--as the crowd shouted MVP--the Lakers had the lead again, 94-93.
After a Jazz miss, a wide-open Ron Artest missed yet another three-point shot. Neither team converted on their next possessions and the Lakers had a one-point lead going into a timeout.
Game 1 (Fourth quarter, 5:59) : Jazz 85, Lakers 84
Fans were left wondering if the Lakers, seemingly in command most of the game, were setting up for one of those collapses that became so familiar during the season.
The quick -- and maybe temporary answer -- came when C.J. Miles went to the line and made two and suddenly the Lakers were behind for the first time since the first quarter.
The Lakers looked to regain the lead but Kobe Bryant missed a three-point shot and Carlos Boozer answered with a two and the Jazz's lead was two. At that point the Lakers had been outscored 10-1 in the quarter.
