NBA Notebook | Heat's Dwyane Wade feeling like a rookie again

SALT LAKE CITY — Kobe Bryant scored 34 points and Los Angeles held off a furious rally by the Utah Jazz for a 108-105 victory Friday night, putting the Lakers in the Western Conference finals for the first time in four years.

The Jazz trailed by 19 at halftime and 16 at the end of the third quarter, but hit a flurry of three-pointers to get within two points in the final minute. The Jazz had a chance to tie it at the end, but Mehmet Okur and Deron Williams missed three-pointers in the closing seconds.

The Lakers made 11 of 13 foul shots in the fourth quarter while barely holding off Utah's rally.

Bryant also had eight rebounds and six assists. Pau Gasol added 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who get to sit back and wait for the winner of the San Antonio-New Orleans series, which will be decided with a Game 7 on Monday.

"We know probably San Antonio the best of the two teams, having played against them a variety of times," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "But I think either team is a difficult matchup for us."

Williams led Utah with 21 points and 14 assists.

Carlos Boozer had 12 points and 14 rebounds, and Okur had 16 points and 10 boards, hitting two three-pointers in the fourth quarter during Utah's comeback.

The Jazz were 5 for 8 from beyond the arc in the final period, but could not quite overcome the huge lead the Lakers had built through the first three quarters.

The Lakers led 101-91 with about two minutes left when the Jazz made its last-gasp push. Okur hit two three-pointers, then Andrei Kirilenko hit another to cut the lead to 103-100. Lamar Odom hit two free throws, followed by another three by Kirilenko, and Bryant then hit two more from the line to make it 107-103 with 15.5 seconds left.

The Jazz went for a quick two points and scored on a dunk by Williams, then got a break when Derek Fisher went 1 for 2 from the line. Utah just needed a three-pointer and got two off, but missed both and the buzzer sounded.

"My teammates and I feel like we should have one game left," said Boozer, who fouled out with nearly five minutes left. "It just hurts right now."

Notes

• Dennis Rodman was charged with domestic violence for allegedly hitting his girlfriend at a hotel last month. He was charged with spousal battery, brandishing a deadly weapon, and one count of dissuading a witness.

• Phoenix will interview Houston assistant Elston Turner as a replacement for former coach Mike D'Antoni. Turner's son, Elston Turner Jr., will be a freshman on the Washington basketball team this winter.

The Los Angeles Times and

The Orange County Register

contributed to this report.