Lakers 111 Jazz 96
SALT LAKE CITY — Kobe Bryant scored 32 points, Pau Gasol added 33 points and 14 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers completed a four-game sweep of the Utah Jazz with a 111-96 victory on Monday night, advancing to the Western Conference final for the third straight year.
The Lakers quickly ended the Jazz’s hopes of extending the series by pulling ahead by 22 in the second quarter. Utah got within five in the third, but couldn’t sustain the comeback against the defending NBA champions, who made very few mistakes and didn’t give the Jazz many chances to rally.
Los Angeles had just six turnovers and made 29-of-36 foul shots while knocking Utah out of the playoffs for the third straight year. The Lakers are off until hosting the Phoenix Suns next Monday in Game 1 of the West final.
Deron Williams led Utah with 21 points and nine assists.
Carlos Boozer had 10 points and 14 rebounds, and Kyrylo Fesenko added 12 rebounds for Utah, which was swept for the first time in 21 years.
The Jazz lost the first three games by single digits but never found a way to slow down Bryant, who scored 30 or more in all four games. The Lakers finally got a blowout in the final game and by doing so earned a week of rest.
Shannon Brown scored 12 and Lamar Odom added 10 points for the Lakers.
C.J. Miles scored 15, Wesley Matthews had 12 and Paul Millsap scored 21 off the bench.
Utah fans started leaving early and the small contingent wearing gold Lakers’ jerseys chanted “Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!” The Jazz hadn’t been swept since Golden State knocked them out 3-0 in the first round of the 1989 playoffs.