Of course, a good deal of the game was dominated by none other than Kobe Bryant, who led the way for the Lakers with 35 points and seven assists. For Utah, it was Deron Williams, with his 28 points and nine assists who paved the way.
Also coming up big in the clutch for the Jazz was Kyle Korver, who had a key 23 points coming off the bench.
The game started off with a series of runs by Utah, in which they led 6-15 and 15-22. For Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant scored the first six points and was held scoreless for the remainder of the first quarter.
At one point in the second quarter the Jazz were able to extend their lead to 12, having a 29-41 advantage. But the combination of Kobe, Derek Fisher, and Shannon Brown were enough to pull L.A. within four at the half.
The Lakers took their first lead of the half after Bryant knocked down a 24 foot-jumper to put the top seed in the west up by one. After that, lead changes were frequent and both teams received adequate offensive and defensive production from a wealth of their players.
Those involved for Los Angeles were, as usual, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Derek Fisher, and Ron Artest, the ladder of whom surprisingly knocked down back to back threes at one point.
Meanwhile, the Jazz got help from Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, Paul Millsap, and Wesley Matthews. Even C.J. Miles made a couple of baskets early in the quarter. When it was time for the fourth quarter to begin, the score was 82-80 in favor of the Lakers.
It was only during the fourth quarter where the real drama unfolded.
L.A. received an early spark from Ron Artest, who had their first nine points of the fourth quarter. For Utah, Kyle Ko...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
