Lakers stay unbeaten with 120-110 win over Utah

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers celebrated Kobe Bryant's MVP award the best way possible.

Bryant had 34 points, eight rebounds and six assists Wednesday night, and the Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 120-110 to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals and remain the NBA's only unbeaten team in the postseason.

The series shifts to Utah for Games 3 and 4 on Friday night and Sunday. The Jazz had an NBA-best 37-4 home record this season, but one of the losses was by 11 points to the Lakers on March 20.

Bryant received his most valuable player trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern in a brief ceremony before the game.

"I'm at a loss for words, I don't know what to say," Bryant said as the Staples Center crowd of 18,997 roared its approval and chanted M-V-P. "I love you guys so much. We're going to play until June. Let's get this party started."

The 29-year-old Bryant was a runaway winner of his first MVP award, receiving 82 first-place votes and 1,100 points to far outdistance New Orleans' Chris Paul in the voting of 126 media members. The results were announced Tuesday.

Seven Utah players scored in double figures, led by Deron Williams, who had 25 points, including three three-pointers in the final minute, and 10 assists.

The Jazz outscored the Lakers 11-4 to get within five points with just under 6 minutes to play. But a jumper by Sasha Vujacic, a three-pointer by Derek Fisher and a free throw by Pau Gasol extended the Lakers' lead to 105-94 with 4:26 left.

A three-point play by Andrei Kirilenko made it 107-99 before Bryant fed Gasol for a dunk with 2:40 to go, and the Jazz weren't closer than six points after that.

The Jazz drew within nine points early in the third quarter before Bryant outscored them 9-4 by himself to make it 82-68. A three-pointer by Williams with 1.5 seconds left in the third quarter trimmed the Lakers' lead to 93-83.

The Lakers led 55-40 before Williams made a three-pointer for his only points of the first half. It was 63-49 at halftime, and it might have been worse for the Jazz had Paul Millsap not scored 13 points.

Williams and Boozer combined to average 39.9 points during the regular season and 35.8 points in Utah's first seven playoff games. They totaled three points in the first half of Game 2.