Game 3 (Final) Lakers 111, Jazz 110
The Lakers put themselves in position to easily advance to the Western Conference finals with a 111-110 win over the Utah Jazz tonight in Salt Lake City. The Lakers now lead the best-of-seven series, 3-0. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit.
If that holds, the Lakers will play the Phoenix Suns, who hold a 3-0 lead over the San Antonio Spurs.
The Lakers' next game is Monday night in Salt Lake City.
Once again, Kobe Bryant showed everyone that his injuries were not a problem as he scored 35 points on 13-of-24 shooting. Derek Fisher and Ron Artest each added 20 points.
Pau Gasol had 14 points and an incredible 17 rebounds. The Lakers didn't exploit their height advantage as much as they did in Game 2, but it was still enough.
Deron Williams led the Jazz with 28 points and reserve Kyle Korver had 23.
The Lakers were down by four with 2:48 left in the game and Lamar Odom going to the line, where he cut the Jazz lead to two. Not bad for a 60% foul shooter.
Carlos Boozer turned the ball over and Odom hit a three to give the Lakers a one-point lead. But Paul Millsap gave the lead back to the Jazz with a shot under the basket after some nifty interior passing.
But Bryant answered with a fall-away jumper to put the Lakers back on top. Korver came back and made his fifth three-pointer in five attempts.
Artest tried to answer with a three but missed and then Williams came back and gave the Jazz a two-point lead. But that is when Derek Fisher hit the shot that ultimately won the game for the Lakers, a three from the wing with 28.6 seconds left that give L.A. a 109-108 advantage that they wouldn't relinquish.
The Jazz came back but Boozer missed a shot and it was followed by two free throws by Bryant to give the Lakers a three-point lead.
The Jazz got the ball back with 7.8 seconds left and Fisher fouled Williams before he could shoot a potential tying three-pointer. Williams made both free throws to make it a one-point game. The Lakers blew the inbounds play with 4.4 seconds to play, allowing the Jazz one last chance to win the game. But Williams missed a jumper from nearly straight on at the three-point line and two Jazz players tried for a tip that rolled off the rim at the buzzer.
Game 3 (Fourth quarter, 2:48) Jazz 100, Lakers 96
Kyle Korver was definitely the difference for the Jazz up to this point, scoring 20 points in only 15 minutes. The Lakers are going to have to figure out how to shut him down.
So, coming out of the timeout the Lakers looked to Derek Fisher to come up with a two, which is exactly what he did. But, now Deron Williams is starting to wake up as he made his third of six three-point shots and the Jazz were up by two.
Wesley Matthews then stole the ball from Kobe Bryant and it ended up as a three-point play and a five-point Jazz lead. But Bryant atoned for his mistake with a driving layup and the Lakers were down by three.
After Korver turned the ball over on a bad pass, the Lakers came back and Lamar Odom was fouled and he made one of two free throws to close the lead to two.
After a few misses by both teams, a foul by Derek Fisher sent Deron Williams to the line, where he made both shots and the Jazz led by four.
Bryant then took the ball to the hoop but missed and Lamar Odom was fouled on the rebound sending him to the line heading into a timeout.
Game 3 (Fourth quarter, 8:06) Jazz 92, Lakers 91
Phil Jackson opened the fourth quarter with Pau Gasol and Ron Artest as the only starters in the game. Artest paid immediate dividends with a two but Jazz guard Kyle Korver made a three. It was his sixth make on six attempts.
The Jazz were able to extend their lead to four when incredibly Korver hit for another three-pointer. But Artest answered with his fourth three of the night to close the margin to one.
After Paul Millsap missed a six-footer, the Lakers drove down the court and Artest made two free throws to give the Lakers the lead again.
Korver continued his red-hot performance with another make, but again, Artest answered with a layup. Is this starting to sound familiar.
But the Jazz put up the 14th lead change of the quarter when Carlos Boozer made an eight-footer for a one-point advantage.
But Kobe Bryant was back in the game for the Lakers so the final eight minutes should be very interesting.
Game 3 (End of third quarter) Lakers 82, Jazz 80
Deron Williams put the Jazz up by one when he made the second of two free throws after the timeout. After a Lakers miss, Paul Millsap extended the lead to three with a basket.
But Derek Fisher let it be known he wasn't through as he made his second three-pointer in five tries to tie the score. After Wesley Matthews fouled Kobe Bryant, the Lakers extended the lead to two but it was short lived as Carlos Boozer made a bucket to tie the score.
A couple of misses later, Pau Gasol made a 19-footer and the Lakers were ahead. But hold on, Williams made a 25-foot three-pointer and the Jazz regained the lead.
