NBA Scores Western Conference Playoffs: Los Angeles Lakers Drop Utah Jazz to Take Commanding 2-0 Lead in Series

Kobe Bryant scored 26 points, dished out 9 assists and grabbed 6 rebounds, Paul Gasol added 22 points and 6 boards and Lamar Odom finished with 19 points as the Los Angeles Lakers knocked off the Utah Jazz 119-109 on Tuesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series.

The Lakers were dominant in the opening quarter as they missed just three shots from the floor and hit four three-pointers to grab take a 41-29 lead into the second quarter. Utah managed to get their deficit down to 49-43 after a bucket from C.J. Miles but a 10-0 run by the Lakers pushed the advantage to 59-43, a lead that was eventually extended to 19 points with 3:13 left in the half. Over the final three minutes the Jazz cut into their deficit and trailed 66-55 at the half.

Utah made another run early in the third quarter and pulled to within six points again but Derek Fisher buried a three-pointer to start a 7-2 spurt to push the Lakers lead back to 11. The Jazz continued to fight and were able to get within six on four more occasions but each time the Lakers responded and by the end of the frame their lead was 89-78.

In the fourth the Lakers lead by as many as 15 only to see the Jazz claw their way back to within six after Kyle Korver hit a pair of free-throws with 4:31 left in the game. After Fisher hit two free-throws to give the Lakers an eight point cushion the Jazz went on a 5-0 spurt to close the gap to 109-106 with 3:16 left in the game. Odom hit a layup for the Lakers to push the advantage back to five and after the Jazz failed to hit a shot Kobe buried a 21-footer for a 113-106 advantage with 1:02 left in the game. LA then put the game on ice after Trevor Ariza buried a triple with 33 seconds left and the Jazz had no more answers.

The Lakers hit 60 percent from the floor including an 11-20 performance from beyond the three-point line.

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