Firm Finish

LeBron James may be the MVP of the NBA, but last season’s MVP, Kobe Bryant, was the most explosive player last night on the hardwood. Bryant buried the most buckets in L.A. lashing of Utah in Game 1 of the Western conference semifinals Sunday at Staples Center. The Jazz watched their four point fourth quarter lead vanish as Bryant drained seven consecutive points to lift the Lakers to a 104-99 home victory. Bryant finished with 31 points, 11 of which he scored in the final four minute rally. The Lakers are 4-0 at home this postseason and are singing a finely tuned song after thumping the Jazz.
Utah has now dropped 15 straight games at Staples Center to the Lakers. L.A. will host game two of the best-of-seven series on Tuesday night. The visitors expect better results after a tough, but well fought, first game. The Jazz had five players score in seven digits but were out-rebounded by L.A.’s enigmatic defense. Deron Williams collected 24 points and eight assists for the fifth-seeded Jazz. Carlos Boozer banked 18 and dished out 12 rebounds while Paul Millsap added nine rebounds. Pau Gasol provided a steady hand with 25 points for the Lakers. Gasol also blocked five shots against the injured Jazz front line. Utah was without starters, Andrei Kirelinko and Mehmet Okur and struggled to guard the Lakers inside. Utah battled back in the second quarter to make it a 30-23 deficit after L.A. opened up an 8-0 advantage. The hosts increased their lead on a 9-0 run to bust open a 39-25 lead. The Jazz stayed with L.A. to trim the margin to eight at the break. Wesley Matthews managed back-to-back three pointers for Utah to cut the Lakers’ lead to three with six minutes remaining in the third. L.A.’s six point burst allowed them to close out the quarter on the upside of 81-73. Utah rallied off 10 points to take over the opening minutes of the final quarter. The visitors led 85-82 until Gasol tied the game with a downtown dink (or a Pau put-back)
Bryant was a perfect 7-for-7 from the line. He capped off the Lakers’ comeback with a pull-up jumper near the line with 1:20 remaining to give L.A. a 96-93 edge. Williams made it a one point game again when he drew a foul and dialed in a pair of free throws for the Jazz. Lamar Odom invoked an emotional charge during the final minute for the home team. Odom blocked a Boozer shot and later scored off a crucial offensive rebound with less than a minute on the clock. L.A.’s point guard and former Jazz star, Derek Fisher, grabbed a key steal on Utah’s next possession and Bryant closed out the play with an acrobatic layup for a three point Lakers’ lead. Bryant rattled off two free throws with 19 seconds to go to keep the five point lead intact, and Gasol sealed the deal with a pair of his own from the charity stripe. The defending champions outlasted the opener and have the early edge in this series after their five point triumph.

Parting Points: A belated but sincere congratulations to Derby winner, Super Saver!