Jazz outscores Lakers
Utah Jazz outscored the Los Angeles Lakers by 12 in the final quarter and winning 114-108 Friday night to improve to an NBA-best 12-1.
This game was really important for the Lakers. They were rewarded with everything but a victory against the team with the best record in the league.
Utah held Kobe Bryant to just two points in the final quarter and outrebounded the Lakers 16-4 in the fourth while winning its eighth straight.
While Lamar Odom launch a three-pointer that somehow crawled out of the hoop, and missing a shot that the official scorer called a layup.
"I put the blame on myself," said Odom, who had 26 points. "Missed. Rolled right out. Right around the rim and fell out. I'll be the goat tonight. I'll take the blame for that one. Basketball's a humbling game, a humbling experience, right? Those are plays I've got to make."
But despite this flaw, Lamar Odom finished with 26 for the Lakers, who had won four in a row. And was also Lakers' top rebounder with six.
Kwame Brown, on the other hand, scored 15 and Luke Walton finished with 13 points for the Lakers.
"We just didn't finish it out," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. "But I told them they had nothing to be ashamed of except that rebound total when they look at it."
Kobe Bryant started off well enough, scoring 14 in the first quarter, but had only two in the fourth quarter, missing all three of his shots and two of four free throws.
"He got tired," Jackson said. "Even his free throws were short. He had an open opportunity two or three times and the rest of his shots were short, so he got a little leg-weary."
"In the fourth quarter, I kind of took on the role of a facilitator. Kwame played extremely well. Lamar got in rhythm. We're going to ride that momentum as much as we possibly could." Bryant said.
Coach Jackson seemed to have downplayed this game.
"I think Utah is a legitimate team," he said. "I don't think that they're going to win the West as far as the best record, but I think that they're going to be a good team out here.
"When we win these games, then it will be a statement."
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