(1) Los Angeles Lakers (2-1) at (8) Utah Jazz (1-2), 9 p.m.
** All times Eastern **
- Deron Williams got the Utah Jazz back into their Western Conference quarterfinals series with the Los Angles Lakers by draining a game- winning jumper on Thursday. Now, the dynamic guard hopes to help the Jazz even the set when the teams meet again in Game 4 at EnergySolutions Arena.
Williams sank a fadeaway jumper with 2.2 seconds remaining, and Utah got a powerful performance from Carlos Boozer in an 88-86 win over the Lakers in Game 3.
Boozer had 23 points and equaled a franchise playoff-record with 22 rebounds, helping the Jazz erase a 13-point deficit in the third quarter to pull within 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.
Williams finished with 13 points and nine assists, while Paul Millsap pulled down 14 rebounds.
Kobe Bryant had one of his worst shooting nights ever in the playoffs, going 5-of-24 and finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Lakers.
Lamar Odom scored 21 and pulled down 14 rebounds, while Pau Gasol ended with 20 points and nine boards, but Los Angeles shot just 36.8 percent from the field.
"The reason why we won the game is because they shot 36 percent from the floor," said Boozer. "They had a good lead on us, 13 points. We fought back and took advantage of opportunities. The reason why we won is because of our defense."
The Jazz were again without the services of their second leading scorer, center Mehmet Okur. Okur has missed the first three games of the series with a strained right hamstring but was able to practice on Friday and will be a game-time decision tonight.
Utah hopes that the raucous crowd at EnergySolutions Arena helps them even the series.
The Jazz are 34-8 at home this season but LA has succeeded in Salt Lake City in the past, clinching last year's conference semifinals in Utah with a 108-105 win in Game 6.
Overall, these two teams have played each other four different times in the postseason with each taking two sets. LA won in 1988 and 2008 while Utah got the best of the Lakers in both 1997 and 1998.
Game 5 is set for Monday in Los Angeles.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
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