Lakers sweep way into Western Conference finals

What us worry?

All the angst that followed the Lakers through Games 3 and 4 of their first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder was erased, buried and forgotten as they defeated the Utah Jazz, 111-96, on Monday night to sweep their best-of-seven series, 4-0.

It was the first time in team history that the Jazz have been swept in a playoff series.

The Lakers move on to play the Phoenix Suns for the Western Conference championship in a series that will start next Monday at Staples Center.

The second round of the NBA playoffs has been rather one-sided as the Lakers, Suns (over San Antonio Spurs) and Orlando Magic (over the Atlanta Hawks) all swept. The only thing to decide is who the Magic will play in the Eastern Conference finals as the series between Cleveland and Boston is tied, 2-2.

Game 4 really wasn’t in doubt as the Lakers dominated in the second quarter to take a 17-point halftime lead. The Jazz was able to cut their deficit to five points during the third quarter but the Lakers never looked in danger of giving up the game.

While Kobe Bryant had a Kobe-type game (32 points on 11-for-23 shooting), it was Pau Gasol, and his four-inch height advantage over Carlos Boozer, that might have made the difference. Gasol finished with 33 points and 14 rebounds.

Bryant scored at least 30 points in all four games against the Jazz. Not bad for someone who had some nagging injuries.

“I just wanted to execute and not let them score in transition,” Bryant said. “I feel healthy and that’s a big difference.”

When asked how the seven-day rest will be, he answered succinctly.

“Heavenly.”

Shannon Brown played a pivotal role off the bench for the Lakers, getting 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting. Derek Fisher and Lamar Odom each added 10 points.

Deron Williams and Paul Millsap each had 21 points to lead the Jazz.

Game 4 (Fourth quarter 1:39): Lakers 109, Jazz 89

Is a 10-point lead good enough with 6 1/2 minutes to play. That’s rarely a certainty in the NBA.

Well, it doesn’t hurt when a team turns a bad possession into a three-pointer as the shot clock is winding down. But Paul Millsap answered with a 20-footer and the Lakers’ lead was 11.

On the Lakers’ next possession, Ron Artest was fouled and missed both free throws. But Pau Gasol was there for the rebound and after some ball movement he made the bucket with less than five minutes to play. At this point, Gasol had 24 points and 14 rebounds.

After an offensive foul by Millsap, the Lakers drove the ball down the court and Gasol was sent to the foul line after Carlos Boozer’s fifth foul.

Gasol connected on a two from nine feet and when the Jazz missed on their possession, Boozer fouled Gasol for his sixth foul. Deron Williams was called for a technical and it was looking like the Jazz were done for the series as the Lakers’ lead became 20 with 3 1/2 minutes to play.

The next few minutes were uninspired garbage time play.

Game 4 (Fourth quarter 6:25): Lakers 93, Jazz 83

Coming out of the timeout, Utah’s Paul Millsap hit two free throws after a Lamar Odom foul. Then the Lakers got three more points from Shannon Brown, bringing his game total to nine. Impressive.

Wesley Matthews came back with a two and the Lakers took the shot clock down to the end before Kobe Bryant was fouled. He made both free throws and the 14-point lead was intact.

Utah’s Deron Williams answered with a two before misses by Bryant and the Jazz’s Carlos Boozer. Bryant then came down and was charged with an offensive foul.

Millsap showed that the Jazz still had some fight left as he converted on an 18-foot jumper, closing the lead to 10 and forcing Phil Jackson to call another timeout.

Game 4 (Fourth quarter, 8:45): Lakers 88, Jazz 76

If you are a Lakers fan, the start of the fourth quarter is usually nervous time. That’s when Coach Phil Jackson likes to play a lot of his second team in order to keep the starters fresh for the end of the game.

But Jackson opened the period with only Pau Gasol and Ron Artest on the bench. And considering that Lamar Odom is a sub, that’s not a bad lineup.

Paul Millsap opened the Jazz’s scoring with a couple free throws and then Derek Fisher hit a three-pointer from far downtown to put the Lakers’ lead at 15.

After Kyle Korver missed a 22-footer, Fisher was fouled and made both free throws. Korver then hit a two and, after a Shannon Brown turnover, Deron Williams made a bucket and a subsequent free throw to cut the Jazz’s deficit to 12.

Andrew Bynum missed on the next possession and then committed a foul -- his fifth -- sending Millsap to the line, where he cut the lead to 10.

Jackson wisely pulled Bynum and inserted Gasol into the lineup.

Bryant then was fouled on a drive, but more importantly slightly injured his finger. It was more of a stinger then anything serious. He made both his free throws and the lead was back to 12.

Game 4 (End of third quarter): Lakers 80, Jazz 67

The Lakers came out of the timeout with a Kobe Bryant basket (giving him 23 points) and the Lakers were back up by nine. The Jazz was then dealt a setback when Carlos Boozer was given his fourth foul.

The Lakers then continued a seven-point run when Lamar Odom hit a three-pointer. Yes that was Odom for a three.

The game starting to get a bit, as they say in hockey, chippy, but the refs were letting them play. C.J. Miles then fouled Bryant, who made one of two free throws.

Paul Millsap closed the margin to 11 with a shot under the basket. But, with about two seconds to go, Bryant missed a shot but Pau Gasol got the tip-in, giving him 22 points.

So, looking back at the third quarter, the Lakers have to be happy with a 13-point lead, withstanding the Jazz, who closed it to within five points in the middle of the quarter.

Game 4 (Third quarter, 2:16) Lakers 72, Jazz 65

After the Lakers’ timeout, Wesley Matthews and Pau Gasol traded buckets but the Jazz was feeling energized and any distress it was feeling from the first half was gone.

A pair of Deron Williams free throws cut the Lakers’ lead back to six, but after a Kobe Bryant miss the Jazz blew a good opportunity when Williams missed a layup and Carlos Boozer was called for a foul.

Pau Gasol made one of two free throws but Boozer came back with a two. Derek Fisher and Boozer then traded buckets before Bryant drove the basket for two and a seven-point lead.

Game 4 (Third quarter, 5:46) Lakers 65, Jazz 57

The 17-point halftime lead certainly showed that the Jazz was a dispirited group and the Lakers were looking forward to a week off before the Western Conference finals. But, if the game was actually over there would be no need to play the second half.

The third quarter started with little advantage to either team. The Jazz got a bucket from C.J. Miles and the Lakers got one of two free throws from Kobe Bryant. But the Lakers were looking a little cold and Utah’s Kyrylo Fesenko made a bucket and Deron Williams hit one of two free throws to start trimming the deficit.

But the Jazz suddenly cooled off after closing the margin to 13. Still, what the Lakers don’t need is Ron Artest throwing up a three, which missed badly. After getting the rebound, Carlos Boozer missed an easy shot inside and the Lakers were able to weather a rough spot. Or so they thought.

Bryant, as usual, was able to make a runner from the side and Boozer answered that with a two. Back again to Bryant, who scored his 18th and 19th points. Miles then covered that bucket with his own.

On the next possession, Bryant had to throw up a prayer to beat the shot clock, and the Jazz got the ball and Miles closed the game to 10 with a three.

Derek Fisher then tried a three but missed and Deron Williams drove to the hoop for a score to cut the Lakers’ lead to eight. Phil Jackson needed a timeout and took one.

Game 4 (Halftime): Lakers 58, Jazz 41

The Lakers rode a second quarter scoring burst from their bench, plus 29 combined points from starters Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, to dominate the Jazz in the first half.

A Ron Artest two-pointer stretched the Lakers’ lead to 44-29 about midway through the quarter.

Lamar Odom came off the bench and looked for his shot, scoring eight points in his first eight minutes.

Derek Fisher was the last Lakers’ starter to score, hitting a bank shot in the paint to make it 47-30 at the 5:20 mark in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, the Jazz was cold, at one point missing 10 consecutive shots from the end of the first quarter through early in the second quarter. The Jazz is shooting under 40% from the field and has eight turnovers. Utah was outscored, 29-17, in the second quarter.

Carlos Boozer missed five of his first six shots. Deron Williams leads the Jazz with 11 points.

Game 4 (Second quarter 7:05): Lakers 42, Jazz 29

The Lakers have gotten a good boost from their bench so far in the game. Shannon Brown hit a short jumper from the baseline to extend the Lakers’ lead to 13, their biggest in the game, just before the Jazz called a timeout.

Paul Millsap hit a short jumper to cut lead to 33-27, but the Jazz had missed 10 straight shots. Jordan Farmar hit an accidental three-point bank shot to make it 38-27.

Brown has six points off the bench, Lamar Odom has six, plus the three from Farmar.

Millsap is the only Jazz reserve who has been a factor; he has six points.

Game 4 (Second quarter 9:25): Lakers 33, Jazz 25

The Lakers started fast as Shannon Brown scored on a dunk to open the quarter. Then on their next possession, Andrew Bynum grabbed an offensive rebeound and scored on a tip-in to make it 33-24.

The Jazz went cold, missing 10 consecutive shots, including two that were blocked by Bynum.

The Lakers are outrebounding the Jazz, 16-12.

Game 4 (End First quarter): Lakers 29, Jazz 24

The Lakers utilized their size advantage in the frontcourt, led by Pau Gasol’s 10 points, and opened a five-point lead at the end of the first quarter.

Gasol had the shooting touch from inside, hitting five of his six shots. Kobe Bryant looked for his shot early, hitting four of his first five, and has eight points. Bryant played about 10 minutes.

Andrew Bynum got off to a better start, too, with four points and one rebound in five minutes.

The Jazz had balanced scoring in the first quarter as seven players scored. Deron Williams played the entire quarter for the Jazz and hit his first three shots; he has seven points.

It was an up-and-down quarter with few shooting fouls.

Game 4 (First quarter 5:03): Jazz 16, Lakers 12

Wes Matthews hit a jumper to extend the Jazz lead to 16-12 before the timeout.

The Jazz is featuring a balanced offense as all five starters have scored already. Matthews leads the Jazz with five points.

Kobe Bryant hit the Lakers’ first basket with a baseline jumper, and later hit his second shot, a jumper from the paint. Bryant leads the Lakers with six points.

Andrew Bynum, who did not score in Game 3, already has four points.

Pregame

Many Lakers fans are already thinking about the possible matchups against the Phoenix Suns, but, oh yes, there’s still Game 4 tonight against the Utah Jazz to play.

Betting site Beted.com makes the Jazz 3 1/2-point favorites over the Lakers tonight.

But their odds on the favorites to win the 2010 NBA championship are interesting.

Current odds are as follows:
--Cleveland, 3-2
--Orlando, 7-4
--Lakers, 2-1
--Phoenix, 9-2
--Boston, 10-1.

Meanwhile, on to Game 4.

--Barry Stavro