L.A. Times - Lakers

Jazz beat Lakers in overtime to even series

Sun, 11 May 2008 15:40:00 -0700

L.A. lets a furious fourth-quarter comeback go for naught. Bryant finishes with 33 points but makes only one of seven shots in the extra period.

Another game the Lakers trailed throughout. Another game they almost came back to win.

Bryant's overtime performance a sore spot for Lakers

Sun, 11 May 2008 19:45:00 -0700

Beset by back spasms, he tries to carry team to victory after having a big hand in forcing extra period. But did his teammates defer too much or did he try to go it alone?

SALT LAKE CITY -- First, the back spasms.

Lakers' Turiaf gets a little too physical

Sun, 11 May 2008 19:30:00 -0700

Backup center's flagrant foul and ejection in second quarter leaves Lakers short-handed at the position, forcing Gasol to play 48 minutes in overtime loss to Utah.

SALT LAKE CITY -- The Lakers can be physical, too, though it cost them in Game 4.

Schedule still favors the Lakers

Sun, 11 May 2008 19:30:00 -0700

Text messages from press row . . .

SALT LAKE CITY -- Kobe Bryant , his newly aching lower back and the Lakers suddenly look vulnerable, but an airy schedule still favors them. . . .

Key to Utah's victory over Lakers was on the bench

Sun, 11 May 2008 19:00:00 -0700

The Jazz's reserves outplayed the Lakers' reserves, an important factor in Utah's Game 4 victory.

SALT LAKE CITY -- Carlos Boozer reverted somewhat to his earlier play this series. Matt Harpring was there to prop him up.

Lakers hit reset button with loss as Bryant slowed

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

With back spasms, Kobe Bryant isn't the same, especially late in a 123-115 Lakers overtime loss to the Jazz, although he turns playmaker to help force the extra period.

SALT LAKE CITY -- And then, everything changed.

Lakers finally at a loss for answers

Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Pau Gasol isn't happy with his performance in Game 3, the Lakers' first defeat in more than a month.

SALT LAKE CITY -- Pau Gasol couldn't stop watching the highlights, if that's the correct word, after the Lakers' Game 3 loss to Utah.

No guarantees with Vujacic, the Lakers' Machine

Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

As series with Utah gets tight, Lakers need the hot-and-cold Sasha Vujacic to keep things loose, and to hit a few key jumpers in the bargain.

SALT LAKE CITY -- To fully appreciate the achievements of most Lakers legends, one needs to pore through thick media guides and mammoth record books.

Let's call these Lakers version 2-1

Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

They can't wait to get Andrew Bynum back, but that won't be until next season and this bunch is doing OK.

SALT LAKE CITY -- Wow, so this is what the playoffs are like!

Jazz just took what the Lakers gave on Friday night

Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Utah returns to practice with a chance to even the series on Sunday in Game 4.

Suddenly, the Lakers are faced with the same problem they presented the Jazz in the first two games of their Western Conference semifinals series.