LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Utah Jazz played better and it still didn't matter.

Tuesday's games

• Cavaliers 94, Pistons 82 (Cavs 2-0)
• Blazers 107, Rockets 103 (Tied 1-1)
• Lakers 119, Jazz 109 (Lakers 2-0)

Monday's games

• Celtics 118, Bulls 115 (Tied 1-1)
• Spurs 105, Mavericks 84 (Tied 1-1)

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• Rosen: Lakers win but don't dominate
• Smith: Pistons no match for Cavaliers
• Hench: Kobe vs. LeBron -- book it!
• Galinsky: 10 burning playoff questions
• Kriegel: Title or bust for Kobe

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Marques Johnson previews
• West: Lakers-Jazz | Nuggets-Hornets | Spurs-Mavs | Blazers-Rockets
• East: Cavs-Pistons | Celtics-Bulls | Magic-Sixers | Hawks-Heat

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Utah closed within six points seven times in the third quarter when the Lakers came unglued offensively. Bryant missed several shots, Gasol got called for offensive basket interference and Derek Fisher committed three turnovers.

Each time the Jazz threatened, though, the Lakers came up with a basket. In the final 2:27, Bryant scored six consecutive points and assisted on Shannon Brown's 3-pointer to send the Lakers into the fourth leading 89-78.

"We were pretty confident, we had a little roll going," Williams said. "We just turned the ball over at the wrong time and it kind of led to a snowball effect. They made us pay."

The Jazz cut their deficit to 49-43 midway through the second quarter on an 18-footer by C.J. Miles.

But the Lakers answered with a 17-3 run to take their largest lead, 66-44, just as Bryant returned after starting the period on the bench. Brown hit a 3-pointer after Luke Walton scored off an offensive rebound of Brown's previous missed trey, and Bryant scored five in a row before Ariza capped the run with a 3-pointer.

"At times we played very physical and made them work a little harder for their shots, made them work a little harder with their offense," Boozer said. "but we've got to do it for 48 minutes."

Even the bounces went the Lakers' way. Odom's 3-pointer spun around in the cylinder before dropping in, and a free throw by Bryant hit the top of the backboard and dropped straight in.

The Lakers weren't successful in stopping Williams' dribble penetration, allowing him to run off seven unanswered points that left the Jazz trailing 66-55 at halftime. Los Angeles shot 63 percent in the half, and the Jazz hit a respectable 60 percent.

The Lakers shot a sizzling 86 percent in the opening quarter and took a 41-29 lead. As he did in Game 1, Bryant got his teammates involved first while he settled for a lone 3-pointer. He had seven of the Lakers' 14 assists in the first half.

Notes