LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant scored 30 points, Pau Gasol added 22 points and 15 rebounds, and the Lakers methodically pounded the ball inside for a no-nonsense 111-103 victory over the 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 ruthlessly exploited their height advantage while maintaining a medium-sized lead throughout the second half of a disjointed, foul-choked game that lasted nearly three hours.
The Lakers didn’t mind skipping showtime for a steady win that put them halfway to their third straight trip to the Western Conference finals. Los Angeles is 40-1 in franchise history after winning the first two games of a seven-game series.
For the third straight postseason, the Lakers have a 2-0 series lead over the Jazz after consecutive wins at the Staples Center, where Utah has lost 16 straight games — including eight in the playoffs.
Game 3 is Saturday night in Salt Lake City.
Paul Millsap had 26 points and 11 rebounds, with the undersized power forward single-handedly keeping the Jazz in the game at times. Deron Williams managed 15 points on 4-for-16 shooting and nine assists for the Jazz.
Magic 114, Hawks 71
ORLANDO, Fla. — Dwight Howard avoided the fouls and had 21 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks to help Orlando build a 46-point lead en route to taking a 1-0 series lead.
“I didn’t allow anything to throw me off my game,” Howard said, adding he made it a point not to engage officials about calls. “And I think that’s what I have to do the rest of the series, just not let things take me off my game, just stay free and clear.”
Vince Carter finished with 20 points as Orlando showed no signs of rust after an eight-day layoff.
“We’re trying to accomplish something this year. We want to come out sharp, in tune with what needed to be done. We wanted to deliver the first blow,” Carter said.
Josh Smith scored 14 points and Zaza Pachulia had 12 for a Hawks team that had little playoff poise.
“It’s embarrassing,” Hawks point guard Mike Bibby said. “They embarrassed us.”
Nothing riled up fans more than when Howard snatched a layup attempt by Smith in the air, pulling down the ball with one hand.
He threw the ball upcourt to Jason Williams, who lobbed a pass from just past midcourt for an alley-oop dunk to Mickael Pietrus that was part of 17 straight Magic points in the second quarter.
The Hawks were held to 10 points in the second quarter, and 11 in the third. Howard and most of the Magic starters weren’t needed in the fourth, and Atlanta players covered their heads with towels on the bench in the final minutes. The Associated Press
