Kobe Bryant dominated the Utah Jazz during the first quarter and gave the Los Angeles Lakers a much needed final push down the stretch, as the Lakers beat the Jazz 108-94, to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the first-round series.
Bryant had one of his worst shooting games in years on Thursday, when he went 5-for-24. That was not the case on Saturday, as he found his stroke almost immediately in Game 4. In the first quarter alone, he went 6-for-8, scoring the Lakers first 11 points. He was aggressive at the start of the game, quickly putting himself in the zone. He drained several Jordan-esque fadeaway jumpers, banked in an impossible shot from the free-throw line while drawing a foul and found his way to the basket seemingly at will. All of this was part of an eight-minute run that quieted the Utah crowd, and sent a no-nonsense message to the unfortunate Jazz players assigned to guard him.
Despite Bryant's out of this world first quarter, Utah was able to build a five-point lead behind well-distributed scoring. The Lakers ran the second quarter however, exploding for 40 points, most of which came from the bench. They held the Jazz to just 16 points in the third quarter, and Bryant scored six during an 8-2 run as Los Angeles built an 11-point lead with just under eight minutes left in the period. Utah mounted a modest comeback down the stretch, but it wasn't enough to close the 19-point deficit they faced after the third quarter.
Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams were two bright spots for the Jazz as they scored 23 points each. Bryant and the well-rounded Lakers took out the Utah crowd, a rowdy bunch who normally play a significant role in the game. Jazz fans have harassed Bryant fiercely - more than other crowds in the past. The future Hall-of-Fame guard seemed determined to silence them from the start, even pointing at the crowd following a tough first-quarter jumper.
Los Angeles was able to overcome 15 turnovers and dismiss the Jazz, to put them in an ideal position to take the first-round matchup. Assuming they close out the series, they will face either Portland or Houston in the second round.
You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.
