SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 11, (AFP): Pau Gasol scored 33 points with 14 rebounds and Kobe Bryant poured in 32 points Monday as the Los Angeles Lakers beat Utah 111-96 to advance to the NBA’s Western Conference finals.
The Lakers reached the conference finals for the third straight year as they continued their defense of the NBA crown they captured last season.
The Lakers quickly extinguished any hopes the Jazz had of extending the series, taking a 22-point lead in the second quarter.
“With close-out games, you have a tendency to lose focus,” Bryant said. “We kept our concentration and paid attention to detail.”
The Jazz, who had faced the task of becoming the first NBA team to recover from an 0-3 deficit to win a best-of-seven series, narrowed the gap to five points in the third quarter but the Lakers made sure they got no closer.
The Lakers had only six turnovers and made 29-of-36 free throws as they eliminated the Jazz from the playoffs for the third straight year.
“We had one of our better games tonight,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “This is the first really consistent game we have played, except for a six-minute stint in the third quarter.
“We controlled the game and forced our will on our opponent.”
The Jazz lost the first three games by single digits but could never find a way to neutralize Bryant.
The Lakers star scored at least 30 points in all four games.
In the finals starting next Monday the Lakers will face Phoenix, who swept San Antonio.
Deron Williams led Utah with 21 points and nine assists.
Carlos Boozer had 10 points and 14 rebounds, and Kyrylo Fesenko added 12 rebounds for the Jazz, who were swept for the first time in 21 years.
“We’re a playoff team and they’re a championship team. They’re just better than we are,” Williams said.
Shannon Brown scored 12 and Lamar Odom added 10 points for the Lakers, who showed their determination to avoid a game five as they thwarted Utah’s attempts to get inside.
“We all were discouraged. It was kinda deja vu,” Williams said. “It’s always hard to get down 10, 12 points against this team and try and come back.”
“We knew they were a great team and I don’t think anybody had us picked to beat them,” Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. “We had some good moments and some moments that weren’t very good.”
In Atlanta, Georgia, the Orlando Magic swept into the NBA Eastern Conference finals, finishing off a lopsided series against Atlanta with a 98-84 victory on the Hawks’ home floor.
Vince Carter scored 22 points to lead another dominant performance by the Magic, who won the four games by an average of 25 points.
Orlando, who lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in last year’s NBA Finals, have won 14 games in a row — the last eight of them in the playoffs as they posted back-to-back series sweeps.
“Guys are just focused. It’s unbelievable to see,” said Carter, who was acquired by Orlando after they fell to the Lakers last season in hopes he could help the team go one step further — to a title.
“This is my opportunity for a championship,” Carter said.
Next up for the Magic will be either Boston or Cleveland - the team they upset in the conference finals last year to reach the championship series. Boston and Cleveland were tied at two games apiece with the Cavs to host game five on Tuesday.
Atlanta held Dwight Howard to 13 points and eight rebounds, but Orlando showed they have other ways to score.
Jameer Nelson used his quickness to stymie the Hawks, finishing with 16 points and nine assists.
Rashard Lewis scored 17 points, knocking down four three-pointers, while Mickael Pietrus’ 12 points all came from three-point range.
As a team, Orlando was 16 of 37 from three-point range.
“We would have to be playing at our absolute, absolute best — like, mistake free — to beat that team,” said Jamal Crawford, who led the Hawks with 18 points. “That team is a great team. They have as good a chance as any to win a championship.”
Atlanta’s Joe Johnson completed a dismal series by scoring 14 points.
He was booed by the home crowd at the start of the game and again when he went to the bench with less than four minutes remaining.
Hawks fans were irked when a frustrated Johnson reacted to heckling in Saturday’s blowlout defeat by saying he didn’t care if they “showed up or not”.
“It doesn’t bother me, man,” said Johnson, who’s last shot was a 25-foot airball as the shot clock ran down. “I’ve got thick skin. I’ve been booed louder than that.”
The Hawks managed to trim a 17-point deficit to 75-66 by the end of the third quarter, but the Magic made sure there was no rally.
“I think our guys pretty well bring it every night,” Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said. “If we’re better than you, we’re going to win most of the time.”