Kobe, Lakers Beat Jazz; Take 2-0 Series Lead

Posted May 8, 2008 12:45 AM CDT
Kobe, Lakers Beat Jazz; Take 2-0 Series Lead
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, center, drives between Utah Jazz's Andrei Kirilenko, left, of Russia, and Paul Millsap during the third quarter of Game 2.   (AP Photo/Mark J. Terril)

Kobe Bryant had 34 points, eight rebounds and six assists after receiving his first MVP award, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 120-110 on Wednesday night to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals. The Lakers remain the NBA's only unbeaten team in the postseason. The series shifts to Utah for Games 3 and 4 on Friday night and Sunday.

The Jazz had an NBA-best 37-4 home record this season, but one of the losses was by 11 points to the Lakers on March 20. Bryant received his Most Valuable Player trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern in a brief ceremony before the game. The Lakers shot 57.4 percent from the field and made 35 free throws _ 22 more than the Jazz.

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