LOS ANGELES (AFP) — The Los Angeles Lakers, led by Kobe Bryant's 38 points, launched their National Basketball Association second-round playoff series Sunday with a 109-98 victory over the Utah Jazz.
Bryant, who has reportedly earned the NBA Most Valuable Player award to be officially announced this week, shot 8-of-16 from the field and made a postseason career high 21 free throws on 23 attempts.
He also had seven assists and six rebounds for the Lakers, who will host game two of the best-of-seven Western Conference series on Wednesday.
Spain's Pau Gasol, a trade-deadline acquisition, chipped in 18 points and 10 rebounds and Lamar Odom had 16 and nine for the Lakers, who still saw the Jazz erase a 19-point third-quarter deficit and narrow the gap to as few as four points in the fourth quarter.
The Jazz out-rebounded the Lakers 58-41. But Utah, who had a quick turnaround after closing out their first-round series against the Houston Rockets on Friday night, couldn't make shots when they needed them most, shooting 38 percent (36-of-95) from the field for the game.
"I'm not going to make excuses," Jazz guard Deron Williams said. "This is the playoffs, you've got to get up for every game like it's your last. They just beat us tonight."
"Maybe, it was the fact that we were well-rested that gave us the victory," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson, whose team enjoyed a six-day break after sweeping Denver in four games.
Rested or not, Bryant had his own struggles from the field in the second half, with 24 of his 38 points coming before the interval.
The 10-time All-Star hit just 1-of-6 shots in the fourth quarter, but compensated with a pair of timely assists down the stretch.
"I really didn't get the run I was looking for in the second half," Bryant said. "I just tried to make passes, facilitate the offense more than I did in the first half."
A 7-2 socring run by the Jazz saw them narrow the deficit to 91-87 with 4:44 left to play.
"We knew they were going to make a run," Bryant said. "The important thing for us was to remain poised and try to execute as best we could."
The Jazz went scoreless over the next two minutes, and the Lakers took advantage.
With it only a two-possession game, Bryant found Gasol streaking to the basket on consecutive plays, the latter putting Los Angeles ahead 101-90 with less than a minute to play.
"The game was right there for us, we just couldn't get it and, hopefully, we will learn our lesson from this game, and we have to look forward," Jazz center Mehmet Okur said.
Bryant had been his characteristic brilliant self in the first half, hitting all 11 of his free-throw attempts as the Lakers built a 51-34 lead.
"It's extremely important because they are easy baskets," Bryant said. "They're open looks. If you go up there and miss two free throws, it can change momentum, it's as good as a turnover."
The Jazz cut the deficit to 79-72 heading into the final period thanks to a three-pointer by Williams as the third quarter expired.
Okur collected 21 points and a playoff career-high 19 rebounds and Williams had 14, nine and nine assists for the Jazz, whose 58 rebounds included 25 offensive boards.
"We've got to get used to the way they crash the glass," Bryant said. "They're really aggressive, we haven't seen that too often. We have to do a better job in the second game be more physical and get those rebounds."
"That's where we have to play the game," Jackson said. "Controlling the boards, controlling the paint."
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