The Utah Jazz opened the fourth quarter with a 16-1 run to defeat an angry Los Angeles Lakers team 96-87. Saturday night at Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City. Down 15 points with six minutes remaining in the game, Kobe Bryant tried to mount a furious comeback, but the Lakers fell short in the second game of a six-game road trip.
The Lakers fell to 3-8 on the road this season.
Earl Watson stole the ball from Pau Gasol and passed ahead to Derrick Favors for a fast break slam dunk to give the Jazz a 74-68 with 8:37 remaining. Lakers head coach Mike Brown, upset that a foul wasn't called on Watson, went ballistic on the sideline and bumped referee Zach Zarba, which earned Brown an immediate ejection.
Less than two minutes later, Matt Barnes picked up another technical foul to exacerbate the situation. The subsequent free throw gave the Jazz a 12-point lead, then Watson followed it up with a three-pointer to complete the 16-1 run that gave Utah a 15-point advantage.
Bryant hit three-pointers on consecutive possessions and followed that by getting fouled on a three-point shot and making all three free throws as the Lakers (14-10) cut the lead to six points, but they never got any closer. Bryant finished with 26 points on the night to lead the Lakers.
Pau Gasol scored 24 points and grabbed 16 rebounds for the Lakers, who shot just 38.7% from the field. The Lakers shot 27.8% (10 for 36) in the second half. Andrew Bynum had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, making this the second game this season that all three players scored 20 points for the Lakers.
Al Jefferson had 18 points and 13 rebounds, and Paul Millsap added 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Jazz (13-9). The Lakers travel next to Philadelphia, where they will battle the 76ers on Monday night.
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