Lakers Down Short-Handed Jazz

The Lakers came into Sunday's game with the Jazz as the prohibitive favorites, expected not only to win the game but to dominate the entire series. For the first 24 minutes on Sunday, that's exactly what happened: the Lakers held a 62-40 advantage heading into the half, with the Jazz looking like they were making a case for the league to adopt a mercy rule.

The Lakers eased up in the second half, allowing the Jazz to almost -- almost -- make a game of it, making up nine points in the third before playing to a draw in the fourth. The end result was still a lopsided 113-100 win that had the Staples Center crowd more concerned about free tacos (they didn't get any) than the final score, but still, the visitors proved (at least to themselves) that they can hang with the league's golden team for stretches at a time.

Lakers 113, Jazz 100: Recap | Box Score | Scoreboard

Kobe Bryant (surprise!) led the way for Los Angeles, scoring 24 points with eight assists in 40 minutes, but Pau Gasol (20 points, nine boards) and Trevor Ariza (21 points, 8-10 shooting) played a huge role. The Jazz got typical huge performances out of Carlos Boozer (27 points, nine boards) and Deron Williams (16 points, 17 assists) but clearly missed having Mehmet Okur, who sat with a strained hamstring, as a third option who can stretch the defense.

After the game, Jerry Sloan was in no mood to take questions about Okur's status, saying he was only concerned about the players in uniform. It's a good strategy by him to keep his players focused, but he was a bit more candid before the game, admitting that the Jazz would struggle to play their game without his starting center. From the Salt Lake Tribune:

"We just have to play," Sloan added. "Memo gives us another shooting opportunity, a guy who can shoot the ball deep out on the floor. And that spreads the floor out a great deal more. [Otherwise] their big guys can just lay back in there and make it difficult for us."

It doesn't happen often, but in this case, foresight is 20/20. The Jazz have until Tuesday for Okur's leg to heal for Game 2.

Latest NBA Playoff Photos

Orlando Magic forward Rashard Lewis, left, shoots a jump shot over Philadelphia 76ers forward Thaddeus Young (21) during the first half of Game 1 of first-round NBA playoff basketball action in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, April 19, 2009. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Philadelphia 76ers guard Louis Williams, left, drives around Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu (15), of Turkey, during the first half of Game 1 of first-round NBA playoff basketball action in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, April 19, 2009. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert (1), of Haiti, goes up for a shot over Orlando Magic guard Courtney Lee (11) during the first half of Game 1 of first-round NBA playoff basketball actio in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, April 19, 2009. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

ORLANDO - APRIL 19: Anthony Johnson #8 of the Orlando Magic shoots against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on April 19, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Anthony Johnson

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LOS ANGELES - APRIL 19: Deron Williams #8 of the Utah Jazz goes up for a shot against Pau Gasol #16 and Lamar Odom #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Deron Williams;Pau Gasol;Lamar Odom

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LOS ANGELES - APRIL 19: Jordan Farmar #5, Luke Walton #4, Josh Powell #21, Sasha Vujacic #18, Shannon Brown #12, and Adam Morrison #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers react during Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Utah Jazz during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jordan Farmar;Luke Walton;Josh Powell;Sasha Vujacic;Shannon Brown;Adam Morrison

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LOS ANGELES - APRIL 19: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers puts up a shot against Paul Millsap #24 of the Utah Jazz in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kobe Bryant;Paul Millsap

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LOS ANGELES - APRIL 19: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against Carlos Boozer #5 and Andrei Kirilenko #47 of the Utah Jazz in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kobe Bryant;Carlos Boozer;Andrei Kirilenko

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LOS ANGELES - APRIL 19: Deron Williams #8 of the Utah Jazz avoids contact from Josh Powell #21 of the Los Angeles Lakers while attempting a shot in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Deron Williams;Josh Powell

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LOS ANGELES - APRIL 19: Andrei Kirilenko #47 of the Utah Jazz goes up for a shot against Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Andrei Kirilenko;Pau Gasol

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

4-19-2009 @ 10:52PM

sjmarkets said...

Lakers in the finals.

4-20-2009 @ 10:57AM

Michael gifford said...

Lakers did what two other teams were supposed to do...their job....by holding home court advantage. 5 other teams did their job...by taking home court away. So the first blood goes to:
Cavs
Bulls
Sixers
Mavs
Lakers
Nuggets
Hawks
Rockets

Let's see what happens next when those teams go visiting or seek to hold home court...