LOS ANGELES – Kobe Bryant scored 30 points, Pau Gasol added 22 points and 15 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers methodically pounded the ball inside for a no-nonsense 111-103 victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night, taking a 2-0 lead in their second-round playoff series.
Andrew Bynum had 17 points and 14 rebounds for the defending NBA champions, who exploited their height advantage while steadily maintaining a medium-sized lead throughout the second half of a disjointed, foul-choked game that lasted nearly three hours.
For the third straight post-season, the Lakers have a 2-0 series lead over the Jazz after consecutive wins at Staples Center, where Utah has lost 16 straight games – including eight in the playoffs.
Game 3 is Saturday night in Salt Lake City.
