Bryant, Lakers survive late charge from Jazz to reach West finals
Posted: Sat May 17 2:13 AM
Salt Lake City, UT (Sports Network) - Kobe Bryant logged a game-high 34 points to go with eight rebounds and six assists, as the Los Angeles Lakers survived a furious rally in the final two minutes to advance into the Western Conference finals with a 108-105 victory over the Utah Jazz in Game 6 at EnergySolutions Arena.
Los Angeles heads to the West finals for the first time since 2004, and faces Monday's New Orleans/San Antonio Game 7 winner of the other conference semifinal series.
"We're proud of what we've accomplished, but we think we can accomplish much more," Bryant said. "No matter who we face it's going to be tough."
Bryant's three-point play gave the Lakers a commanding 99-86 lead with 4:21 remaining in the game. With Carlos Boozer having fouled out and the Jazz hitting only four prior three-pointers, the game seemed all but over.
Utah had other ideas, as the club hit five consecutive shots from behind the arc -- including two by Andrei Kirilenko -- to make it a two-point game with just 16 seconds remaining.
Bryant then sunk two free throws and Paul Millsap finished on the other end with an uncontested dunk with 13 ticks left. Leading 107-105, the Lakers' Derek Fisher was fouled, but made just 1-of-2 from the stripe.
The Jazz came down and had several chances to send the game into overtime. After Kyle Korver passed up a three, Mehmet Okur missed a tally from downtown. The rebound caromed to Deron Williams at the top of the key, but his attempt was also off the mark and the time ran out on Utah's stunning comeback effort.
"I didn't know how much time was left so I think I rushed it a little because Kobe wasn't going to risk fouling me," Williams said. "I could have taken my time a little more, but it was a great look and I just missed it."
Bryant, playing with an injured back suffered in Game 4, truly embodied an MVP with his 12 fourth-quarter points and 15-of-17 effort from the free throw line. His teammates came through as well, as Pau Gasol recorded 17 points and 13 rebounds, while Lamar Odom finished with 13 and 9, as Los Angeles broke the trend by becoming the first team in the series to win a game on the road.
"It's a big step for us," Bryant said. "The important thing is coming on the road and winning in this building, a place where prior to tonight they had lost five games all year. It shows a lot of character on our part to come in here and come out with a victory."
Utah's clear home court advantage throughout the season could not help the club overcome its futile 38.1 percent shooting from the field. Williams tallied team-highs of 21 points and 14 assists, Millsap was a spark plug off the bench with 15 points and eight caroms.
Boozer finished with just 12 points on 5-of-16 shooting from the field, but finished with a game-high 14 rebounds.
The Lakers' win marked just the second road victory for any team in the second round of the playoffs. The host is now 21-2 when playing in front of its faithful.
Vladimir Radmanovic's three-pointer on the game's first possession was an indication of things to come. The top seed came out of the gate poised to end the series with a run-and-gun style, as the first quarter featured numerous spurts that resembled the Lakers of yore.
A 12-2 run midway through the frame allowed the Lakers to push ahead by a 33-20 advantage after a period of play.
The clubs exchanged jabs in the second quarter before Derek Fisher dug the nail in a little further with a three-ball and three consecutive free throws to close the half's scoring with LA holding a 62-43 halftime lead.
Williams finished an up-and-under three-point play at the 9:38 mark to make it a 68-53 affair, but Bryant and Gasol hit back-to-back field goals on the other end, halting any possible momentum change.
Bryant's runner on the Lakers' last possession of the quarter gave LA an 86-70 lead with 12 minutes to play.
Millsap's dunk in transition followed by a Boozer jumper concluded a 10-2 spurt that made it a 91-84 game with just over five minutes left. Game Notes
Fisher logged 16 points, while Radmanovic and Sasha Vujacic added 12 apiece in the win...Okur netted 16 points, Kirilenko 12 and Ronnie Brewer 13 in defeat...Utah owned a 52-38 rebounding edge...The Lakers have won six of their last eight Game 6s in the playoffs...LA had dropped three of its last four games then it had the chance to eliminate its opponent from the postseason...Utah finished 41-6 at home this season, including the playoffs...The Lakers will host Game 1 of the West finals on Wednesday.