Just in case the Jazz needed reminding who was the NBA's new MVP, Kobe Bryant went out and laid 34 points, eight rebounds and six assists on Utah as the Lakers won 120-110 to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.
Los Angeles remains the NBA's only unbeaten team in the postseason.
Bryant received his Most Valuable Player trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern in a brief ceremony before the game, which was played in Los Angeles.
"I'm at a loss for words, I don't know what to say," Bryant said as the Staples Center crowd of 18,997 roared its approval and chanted M-V-P. "I love you guys so much. We're going to play until June. Let's get this party started."
Derek Fisher, who played for Utah last season, added 22 points, Pau Gasol scored 20, and Lamar Odom had 19 points and 16 rebounds for the Lakers, who shot 57.4 percent from the field and made 35 free throws — 22 more than the Jazz.
Seven Utah players scored in double figures, led by Deron Williams, who had 25 points, including three 3-pointers in the final minute, and 10 assists. Paul Millsap added a career playoff-high 17 points and 10 rebounds, Mehmet Okur scored 16 points and Andrei Kirilenko added 14. Okur and Kirilenko both fouled out in the final minute.
Only 13 of the 211 teams that lost the first two games in a best-of-seven NBA playoff series have overcome that deficit to advance. Teams coached by Phil Jackson are 39-0 when winning the opener of a playoff series — 24-0 with the Chicago Bulls and 15-0 with the Lakers.
Source: Xinhua/Agencies
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