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Lakers, Magic floor rivals

Published:Thursday | May 6, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer (left) pulls a loose ball away from Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant during the first half of Game Two of the second-round NBA basketball play-off series in Los Angeles on Tuesday night. The Lakers won 111-103. - AP

LOS ANGELES (AP):

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 NBA second-round play-off series.

Kobe Bryant scored 30 points and Pau Gasol added 22 points and 15 rebounds for the defending NBA champions, who 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.

Andrew Bynum had 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers, who didn't mind skipping showtime for a steady win that put them halfway to their third straight trip to the Western Conference finals. Los Angeles are 40-1 in franchise history after winning the first two games of a seven-game series.

The power of millsap

For the third straight post-season, the Lakers have a 2-0 series lead over the Jazz after consecutive wins at Staples Center, where Utah have lost 16 straight games - including eight in the play-offs.

Game Three is Saturday in Salt Lake City.

Utah's Paul Millsap had 26 points and 11 rebounds, with the undersized power forward single-handedly keeping his team in the game at times. C.J. Miles scored 20 points and Carlos Boozer added 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Jazz, who get three days off to plot another way to counter the Lakers' obvious advantages down low.

Magic 114, Hawks 71

In Orlando, the hosts recorded one of the most crushing victories in their play-off history, dominating Atlanta in the opener of their series.

Only a 47-point win in the first round against Boston in 1995 was a larger margin of victory in a play-off game for Orlando. This was just one big Magic highlight reel. Dwight Howard had 21 points and 12 rebounds, adding five blocks while avoiding the fouls and frustration that overwhelmed him in the first round.

The Magic led 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 play-off poise. Game Two in the best-of-seven series is today in Orlando, and Atlanta will have to find some way to rally from an embarrassing defeat.

Coming off a Game Seven victory in the first round, the Hawks were outhustled and outmuscled at every step. The little more than 48-hour turnaround didn't keep them sharp and they looked more like the team trying to get back in rhythm.