Lakers 96 - 85 Jazz
Final
  for this game

Surging Lakers visit slumping Jazz

Apr 1, 2011 - 3:06 PM

Video

(Sports Network) - The hottest team in the NBA, the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, takes its show to the road tonight in search of a ninth straight win against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.

The Lakers sport an impressive 16-1 mark since the All-Star break and have pulled within 2 1/2 games of the West-leading San Antonio Spurs for conference bragging rights. The Spurs are mired in a season-worst five-game slide.

Los Angeles made it eight wins in a row with last night's 110-82 blowout of the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center courtesy of 28 points from Kobe Bryant. Andrew Bynum ended with 18 points and 13 rebounds while Lamar Odom had 16 points and 11 boards for the Pacific Division-champion Lakers.

"We played a solid second half. We played with the intensity we had to," Lakers head coach Phil Jackson said.

LA registered its 10th straight win at home and will put its 25-12 road record on the line Friday night in the Mormon State. The Lakers, who are 1 1/2 games ahead of the Mavs in the standings, will play three of their next five games as the visitor.

The Jazz will wrap up a four-game homestand tonight and have dropped six in a row overall, including Monday's 100-95 overtime loss versus Washington.

C.J. Miles had a team-high 17 points and Al Jefferson provided 15 and 16 boards for the Jazz, who have a slim chance at making a postseason run. The Jazz are six games behind Memphis for the final playoff berth in the West with seven to go.

"It's very frustrating," Jazz rookie Derrick Favors said. "They hit a big shot to send it to overtime. They just kept hitting shots and that's how we lost."

Utah is 20-18 in Salt Lake City this season. In injury news for the Jazz, guards Devin Harris (hamstring) and Raja Bell (foot) are questionable for this evening and forward Andrei Kirilenko (knee) is expected to miss the game.

The 2010-11 series between the Lakers and Jazz is tied at a game apiece, with each team prevailing as the host. Los Angeles is 11-4 in the previous 15 matchups against Utah, but has lost six of nine contests at the Jazz.






Related News