Kobe hits 30 to give Jazz the blues
May 05, 2010 12:28:51 UK
Jazz 103, Lakers 111
Kobe Bryant scored 30 points, Pau Gasol added 22 points and 15 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers methodically pounded the ball inside for a no-nonsense 111-103 victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night, taking a 2-0 lead in their second-round playoff series.
Andrew Bynum had 17 points and 14 rebounds for the defending NBA champions, who ruthlessly exploited their height advantage while maintaining a medium-sized lead throughout the second half of a disjointed, foul-choked game that lasted nearly three hours.
For the third straight postseason, the Lakers have a 2-0 series lead over the Jazz after consecutive wins at Staples Center, where Utah has lost 16 straight games - including eight in the playoffs.
Paul Millsap had 26 points and 11 rebounds, with the undersized power forward single-handedly keeping the Jazz in the game at times.
Game three is on Saturday night in Salt Lake City.
Magic 114, Hawks 71
Dwight Howard had 21 points and 12 rebounds in one of the most crushing playoff wins in Magic history, a rout of Atlanta in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Howard added five blocks and avoided the fouls and frustration that overwhelmed him in the first round, helping the Magic go ahead by as many as 46 points.
Vince Carter finished with 20 points as Orlando showed no signs of rust after an eight-day layoff. Josh Smith scored 14 points and Zaza Pachulia had 12 for a Hawks team that had little playoff poise.
Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is Thursday night in Orlando, and Atlanta will have to find some way to rally from an embarrassing defeat.
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