Lakers End Jazz Home Win Streak

[March 21, 2008]  SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Kobe Bryant scored 27 points, Lamar Odom had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers ended Utah's 19-game home winning streak with a 106-95 victory over the Jazz on Thursday night.

Derek Fisher added 11 points and Vladimir Radmanovic scored 13 for the Lakers, who are the first team to win in Utah in 2008.

The Lakers missed just once in their first 10 shots and were ahead by 24 early in the second period, stunning the fans who hoped to see the Jazz break the longest home winning streak in team history. Instead, it ended with a pretty big thud as the Jazz were never able to get closer than 10 until the final few minutes.

One Jazz fan marred the already ugly loss by throwing a beer on the court after a dunk by Odom with 21 seconds left.

Carlos Boozer had 23 points and 15 rebounds and Deron Williams had 26 points and 12 assists for Utah. Andrei Kirilenko scored 15 points, Ronnie Brewer had 12 and Mehmet Okur 10.

Utah hadn't lost at home since Boston won here 104-98 on Dec. 29. The winning streak tied the longest in franchise history and the Jazz could have set a new mark against the team Jazz fans dislike the most. Bryant shouldered the usual boos and by the end the remaining fans were mostly wearing gold and purple and chanting "M-V-P!" Bryant also had eight rebounds and seven assists.

Los Angeles is still without Pau Gasol (ankle) and Andrew Bynum (knee), but didn't need much more than the starting lineup. Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic scored 11 each for the Lakers, who outscored the Jazz reserves 25-9.

Los Angeles had Utah scrambling from the beginning, going 15-for-20 in the first quarter and shutting down every mini-run the Jazz made until it was too late. Every time Utah made a small dent in the lead, the Lakers answered with a 3-pointer. Los Angeles finished 10-for-22 from beyond-the-arc

The Jazz never got closer than 11 until Boozer's turnaround jumper cut the lead to 94-84 with 4:32 remaining. Bryant followed that with a 22-foot jumper, but fouled Williams on a 3-pointer at the other end. Williams made the free throw to cut the lead to 96-88, but Bryant quickly stopped the momentum with a dunk.

Luke Walton followed with a layup and the Lakers held on easily from there.

Notes: Odom had 10 points, five rebounds and four assists at the end of the first quarter. ... The Lakers led 38-18 after one an quickly took a 24-point lead in the second. ... All five Jazz starters scored in double figures. ... Paul Millsap led the Jazz reserves with five points.

[Associated Press; By DOUG ALDEN]

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