|
 With guard Alec Burks coming off the bench to score 24 points,
Utah handed the Lakers their sixth consecutive defeat at home,
matching the worst streak since the club moved to Los Angeles in
1960. The last time the team lost six straight home games was March
1993.
"Collectively, we don't have exactly what we need at the same time
all the time," said Lakers center Chris Kaman, who posted game highs
with 25 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks. "The whole game is a
struggle. We got tired at the end. We didn't have anything left in
the tank, really.
"It's frustrating to lose like that, especially the way we started.
I thought we were ready to play for the first eight minutes."
And, to continue the Lakers' seemingly endless string of injuries,
point guard Steve Nash didn't return for the second half because of
nerve root irritation in his back. Nash, who was forced out of
Sunday's loss to the Chicago Bulls with the same injury, finished
with two points and two assists in 17 minutes.
"He wanted to come back in the second half when we had so few guys
to play," Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni said of Nash, who left the
arena before speaking to the media. "He didn't want to just sit out,
but he couldn't go. We just have to get through this period and get
guys back after the All-Star break."
Nash is listed as day-to-day. Los Angeles guard Steve Blake also
tweaked an elbow that forced him to miss 26 games before returning
Feb. 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
"My arm got stuck in a screen between two guys and I hyperextended
my arm again," Blake said. "It hurt, but I wasn't going to sit down.
I just played through it. That's it."
Blake's status is unknown for Thursday's game against the Oklahoma
City Thunder, who have the NBA's best record. If he and the
40-year-old Nash are unable to go, they would join injured Lakers
Kobe Bryant, Paul Gasol, Nick Young, Jordan Farmar, Xavier Henry and
Jodie Meeks on the sideline.
The Jazz (18-33) won for only the second time in their past six
games and defeated the Lakers (18-34) for the second time in three
meetings.
Utah guard Gordon Hayward scored 15 points, grabbed eight rebounds
and handed out seven assists. Reserve forward Jeremy Evans added 14
points, and center Derrick Favors had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Burks, who hit eight of his 11 shots, scored 13 of his points in the
fourth quarter.
[to top of second column] |
"He's working and understanding situations," Utah coach Tyrone
Corbin said of Burks. "Offensively, he's in that position where we
need him to be ready to attack. He's one guy that can put a lot of
pressure on (the opposition)."
The Lakers used a 25-4 run, including 19 consecutive points, to wipe
out a 7-0 deficit and take a 25-11 lead. They held a 27-16 advantage
after the first quarter.
Utah rallied with a 16-3 spurt to open the second and grabbed a
32-30 lead after Hayward scored on a drive midway through the
quarter.
The Jazz outscored the Lakers 32-10 in the second for a 48-37
advantage at the break. Los Angeles shot 22.2 percent (four of 18)
in the quarter compared to 50 percent (14 of 28) for the Jazz.
Overall, the Jazz shot 43.5 percent (37 of 85) to only 38.8 percent
(33 of 85) for the Lakers.
"We've got a chance to close it out and leave with a lot of
confidence," Hayward said about ending the first half of the season
Wednesday against the Philadelphia 76ers. "That would be good for
us. Tomorrow will be a big game."
Forward Wesley Johnson added 15 points, and forward Shawne Williams
scored 11 for the Lakers.
Utah outrebounded the Lakers 55-40.
"Fifty-five rebounds is great for us," said Corbin, whose club also
had a 15-10 advantage on the offensive glass.
NOTES: With C Chris Kaman and F Shawne Williams starting, the Lakers
rolled out their 26th different lineup in 52 games. Kaman, who
pulled down his 5,000 career rebound in the first quarter, started
his fifth game but his first since Dec. 27 at Utah. ... Los Angeles
G Jordan Farmar missed his second straight game with hamstring
soreness. Farmar probably will not return until after the All-Star
break. ... Utah F Marvin Williams entered the contest averaging 22.3
points per game over the past three outings, but he scored just nine
points Tuesday. ... The Lakers donated $500 to the Los Angeles
chapter of the Make-A-Wish foundation for each 3-pointer they made
during the game. They finished 4-for-16 from 3-point range after
making their first four.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
