Final
Home Sweet Home: Lakers take on Jazz in LA
Mar 18, 2012 - 3:14 PM (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Lakers are creeping up the Western Conference standings thanks to a five-game winning streak and have been even more impressive at home. The Lakers look to make it 11 in a row in their own backyard tonight versus the Utah Jazz at Staples Center.The Pacific Division-leading Lakers tied a season high with their fifth straight win over Minnesota Friday night, as Kobe Bryant scored 28 points in a 97-92 wire-to-wire victory. Pau Gasol had 17 points and 11 rebounds, Matt Barnes also netted 17 points in a reserve role and Andrew Bynum recorded a double-double with 15 points and 14 boards.
Ramon Sessions, who was acquired from Cleveland before the trade deadline, posted seven points, five assists and four rebounds in his LA debut.
"I just got in here this morning. I got a 10-minute nap and I was ready to go," Sessions said. "In Cleveland it was up and down the court, but here it's different. When you have talent like this, it's easy for me. It's a dream come true to be with this organization."
The Lakers were playing their first game since dealing team captain and veteran Derek Fisher to Houston, and posted their 19th straight regular season victory against the Timberwolves. Los Angeles, which won five straight from Jan. 6-13 this season, is 2 1/2 games ahead of the Clippers in the Pacific and third in the conference standings, and owns a sizzling 19-2 record at home.
Utah posted its fifth straight win at home with Saturday's 99-92 overtime victory versus Golden State and improved to 17-6 in Salt Lake City. However, the Jazz are back on the road, where they sport a 5-16 mark and have dropped three straight.
Derrick Favors powered his way to 23 points and 17 rebounds -- both career highs -- and his three-point play with 27.8 seconds left in regulation sent the game into an extra session. Favors started in place of Al Harrington as he grieves the loss of his grandmother for the Jazz, winners in seven of the last 11 contests.
"I am just coming out here and playing my game," said Favors. "Rebounding and defense, that's my game. Coach trusted me enough at the end of the game to keep me in, so I couldn't let him down."
Jamal Tinsley and Paul Millsap netted 13 points apiece, while Devin Harris and Gordon Hayward each scored 12 points in the win. The Jazz are 1 1/2 games off the eighth and final postseason spot in the West. Harrington is expected to miss Sunday's game as well and guards Raja Bell (adductor) and Earl Watson (ankle) are questionable against the Lakers.
Utah has dropped two of three meetings with the Lakers this season and 14 of 20 overall in this series. The Jazz are winless in 10 of their previous 11 games at the Lakers.
- UTAH: 103
LOS ANGELES: 99
Final
Mar 19 12:00 AM - UTAH: 75
LOS ANGELES: 69
End of 3rd
Mar 18 11:22 PM - UTAH: 45
LOS ANGELES: 44
Halftime
Mar 18 10:37 PM - UTAH: 23
LOS ANGELES: 20
End of 1st
Mar 18 10:06 PM - UTAH: 0
LOS ANGELES: 0
1st Quarter - 12:00
Mar 18 9:41 PM
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