Jazz open the game 5-0 at home. The game was pretty up and down from the beginning. Kobe fresh of a 48 point game came out still hot. He made Raja Bell remember why he hated him. When the game was tied at 15/15 Kobe went up for a layup and Raja gave him a shove, then followed that up with a little jaw jacking that Kobe just ignored as usual. Raja got a smooth technical foul. For the Jazz Milsap came out firing as well. The fact that Luke was guarding him didn't help matters much. He was having his way on both ends of the floor. Kobe ends the quarter with a buzzer beater three that puts the Lakers up by three. Pau already had five boards and Kobe had 12points in counting.
The Lakers are being out rebounded but they are still keeping good pace. Defense was still holding strong though. It was very evident when Milsap ran down the lane for what he thought was a one hand jam and Bynum met him at the top of the key and hung him like a Christmas wreath! The Lakers end the half down by one. Mainly because Kobe had 21 and the Lakers had 41! With one guy scoring half the points it usually doesnt end well. We needed points from other players and fast.
The Lakers open the third on an 8-2 run led by The Blank Mamba. All things seemed to be going right for the Lakers. Luke Walton actually made a left hand floater in the lane. At the same time, Steve Blake takes a shot to ribs and couldn't breathe. He's helped to the lockeroom. With Jason Kapono ( wife gave birth to twins),McRoberts ( toe injury),Troy Murphy ( flu), our already thin lineup just got thinner.
Kobe and Fish sit on the bench until the 9:34 mark in the 4th which is about all I could handle from the line up of Ron, EBanks,Morris (the rook who dribbles too much),and Luke. The Jazz then go on a 6-0 run to take the lead. Matt Barnes then hits a long two to improve his perfect night from the floor. The starters are now all in as we learn Steve Blake has a bruised rib and will not return. The starters are very well need because our bench has not been producing. Utah bench has 27 to the Lakers 11!!
Well the game gets down to the wire and it's 73-73 with 1:17 to go. Then Josh Howard hits a 3,then Kobe answers with a fade away. Then of course Milsap scores underneath on Pau and it's a tie game with 28 secs left. Kobe is fould with 6 secs left. He holds for the last shot but doesn't make it and we are goin to OT.
Milsap abuses Pau for the first few possessions and Pau has a blanket of frustration draped over him. But just like that with a pass from Kobe he makes his first three of the season! Raja Bell fouls out on the next play as always when guarding Kobe and Lakers lead by one with 1:03 to go. Kobe misses a basket on our end and the Jazz head down the court with 11 secs left. Al Jefferson is posed for a dunk and Bynum blocks his life!!!!! NO BASKET!!!! Lakers up by three. Jazz in bound with .007 secs left. In bound pass goes to Devin Harris who is blocked by Kobe....with his left hand...GAME. Kobe walks off the court with a smirk and 40 points ending the Jazz home streak. On to the next one......