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Lakers vs. Jazz in-game report

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The winning streak is over.

The Lakers had won 11 consecutive games, but the Utah Jazz snapped that with a 102-94 victory Saturday night at EnergySolutions Arena.

In the process of that streak, the Lakers defeated the Jazz on Wednesday night at Staples Center. The Lakers held the Jazz to six points in the fourth quarter of that game.

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This time, it was the Jazz that played the good defense.

All five Lakers’ starters scored in double figures, but it wasn’t enough.

Kobe Bryant had 16 points, but he was just seven-for-24 shooting from the field.

Bryant tried to play through a stomach ache, but it was clear that it bothered him.

The game against the Jazz in Salt Lake was the first of a five-game trip for the Lakers.

The Lakers will return home tonight, practice Monday and head to Chicago that afternoon.

The Lakers then will be on the road at Chicago, Milwaukee, New Jersey and Detroit, their first extensive trip of the season.

Jazz 80, Lakers 71 (end of third quarter)
Before Saturday night’s game against the Jazz, Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said Utah tries to get Derek Fisher into foul trouble so he has to come out of the game.

Well, it worked. Fisher picked up his fourth foul with seven minutes left in the third quarter, forcing him to take a seat on the bench as the Lakers fell behind, 80-71, at the end of the third.

Fisher had been playing a good game up to that point.

Ron Artest, who entered the game 11 points shy of the 10,000-point mark in his career, scored 16 points through three quarters to surpass the milestone.

Jazz 59, Lakers 53 (halftime)
Derek Fisher had the hot hand for the Lakers against the Jazz.

Fisher had 13 first-half points in helping the Lakers stay within 59-53 of Utah at halftime.

Fisher was five for six from the field. He tied his season high in the first half.

As a team, the Lakers shot 59% from the field in the first half.

Wesley Matthews led the Jazz with 16 points.

Lakers 25, Jazz 25 (end of first quarter)
The Lakers shared the basketball in the first quarter, all of them looking for each other.

Of the 12 field goals the Lakers made, six came off assists, allowing them to stayed tied at 25-25 with the Utah Jazz after the first quarter ended.

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Kobe Bryant had three of the team’s first-quarter assists.

But the Jazz was just as good at passing the ball around. The Jazz had 10 assists on 10 made field goals in the first.

Deron Williams had four assists in the first for the Jazz.

Pregame
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant arrived late for Saturday night’s game against the Utah Jazz because he was suffering from an upset stomach.

Bryant took fluids via an IV before the game and was expected to play.

Bryant also suffered an avulsion fracture on his right index finger during Friday night’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center.

Bryant had a splint placed on his finger at halftime.

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said before Saturday night’s game that he expects Bryant to wear the splint for four to six weeks.

-- Broderick Turner

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