Jazz fall to Lakers at home in overtime bout
When the Los Angeles Lakers came to Salt Lake City Wednesday night, the Jazz were looking at their first big challenge of the season. Kobe Bryant dropped 40 points as the Jazz watched their four-point overtime lead slip away in the final seconds.
The Jazz didn’t pick up a win, but for Jazz head coach Ty Corbin, the 90-87 overtime defeat wasn’t a loss.
“We played against a good team tonight, and they were a little bit better than we were,” Corbin said. “Our effort was great, man. The guys did a great job of hanging in there. I was proud of my guys.”
Forward Paul Millsap had a season-high 29 points for the Jazz and pulled down eight rebounds. Utah forward Josh Howard had 18 points off the bench to continue his recent success.
The Jazz were down by five with two-and-a-half minutes left to play, but Howard went to work hitting two free throws and a 3-pointer to tie up the game at 76. Bryant hit a long 2-pointer with 39 seconds left, and Millsap answered on the Jazz’s next possession, tipping the ball in the basket to push the game into overtime.
With 59 seconds left in the extra period, Howard hit a 3-pointer from the left wing to give the Jazz a four-point lead at 85-81. A 7-0 run sparked by five-straight points from forward/center Pau Gasol, including a rare 3-pointer put the Lakers back on top by three.
“They made shots, they came down and Pau made the three in the corner,” Corbin said. “Kobe made a big shot. They made shots and we missed a couple.”
Millsap hit a jump shot and a Bryant miss gave the Jazz the ball back with 16 seconds left to play.
The Jazz got the ball to center Al Jefferson under the basket but Jefferson was stuffed by L.A.’s Andrew Bynum.
“Gordon made a good drive. I thought Al got a good shot at the basket there,” Corbin said.
The Jazz had plenty of opportunities to take the lead, especially from the free-throw line. They missed five points in overtime.
“Look at the end of the game. We didn’t get a lot of free throws, but we missed five,” Corbin said. “It’s in overtime and every basket counts.”
Jazz guard Raja Bell agreed with his coach.
“Things like that always hurt, but that’s part of the game,” Bell said. “If we don’t shoot them well that night, then we’ve got to compensate somewhere else.”
Bell did his best to compensate going up against Bryant on defense. The battle between the two continued in the locker room.
“If he’s got to take 31 shots to get 40 points then that’s all you can do,” Bell said. “Anyone taking 31 shots should score 40.”
– meredith.kinney@aggiemail.usu.edu