Kobe rallies Lakers past Jazz in 2nd round
Published:Monday | May 3, 2010 | 5:32 PM
Kobe Bryant scored 11 of his 31 points in the final four minutes as the Los Angeles Lakers blew a fourth-quarter lead before rallying for a 104-99 victory over the Utah Jazz in their second-round playoff series opener last night.
Pau Gasol had 25 points and 12 rebounds for the top-seeded Lakers, who played a dismal final period before Bryant seized control.
Deron Williams scored 24 points for fifth-seeded Utah, which managed just one more field goal after taking a 93-89 lead with 4.10 to play.
Game two in the best-of-seven series is tomorrow night at Staples Center.
At Atlanta, Jamal Crawford scored 22 points and Al Horford put up a double-double as Atlanta Hawks pulled away from Milwaukee Bucks to win their first round playoff 4-3.
Atlanta won the game 95-74
The third-seeded Hawks advanced to face Number two Orlando in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Magic, who have been resting since wrapping up a sweep of Charlotte last Monday, will host the first two games of the series beginning tomorrow.