Advertisement

Lakers vs. Jazz: Lakers run over Jazz with fourth-quarter push

Share

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

The Lakers won their 10th consecutive game, this time doing so by getting after the Utah Jazz on defense in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers defeated the Jazz, 101-77, tonight at Staples Center because they finally played some defense, holding Utah to six points in the final 12 minutes.

Advertisement

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 27 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

Pau Gasol had another double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

When the Lakers dug down on defense in the fourth, the Jazz had no answer for what conforted it.

The Lakers scrambled for loose balls. They forced the Jazz into two 24-second violations. They held the Jazz scoreless for over six minutes.

That allowed the Lakers to go on a 21-2 run, giving them a 94-73 lead that spelled the end of the Jazz.

Utah missed its first 12 shots in the fourth.

It didn’t score its first field goal until there was 4:33 left in the gane.

The Lakers knew after they were tied at the half and after they trailed by seven points in the third quarter that the Jazz was not going away.

It figured to be a physical game, but the Jazz was the more physical team.

When Jordan Farmar hit a three-pointer late in the third, it allowed the Lakers to open a 73-71 lead over the Jazz entering the fourth.

The Jazz beat the Lakers up on the backboards in the first half.

Utah outrebounded the Lakers, 23-17. The Jazz had 11 offensive rebounds.

The Lakers were tied, 24-24, with the Jazz at the end of the first quarter.

When the Lakers opened a seven-point lead early in the first, it looked as if they would hold strong.

Advertisement

But Mehmet Okur scored 10 points and Deron Williams dished out five assists to help the Jazz tie the game.

----

About an hour before tipoff, Bryant walked into the Lakers’ locker room dressed in his uniform. He was prepared to play the game against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center.

Earlier in the day, Bryant had missed the Lakers’ shoot-around because of a home-invasion robbery in his gated community in Newport Beach that led to a SWAT standoff Tuesday night.

Bryant didn’t talk before the game, but he did have his headphones on as he walked to his locker.

-- Broderick Turner

Advertisement