Los Angeles Lakers Vs Utah Jazz Conference Semifinals Game 3
May 06
The top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers and the fourth-seeded Utah Jazz continue their battle in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinals. This is the fourth time the Lakers and Jazz have met in the playoffs. Los Angeles defeated the Jazz in seven games in the 1988 West semis. Utah knocked out the Lakers in five, 4-1, in the 1997 semifinals and swept LA in the 1998 conference finals. The Lakers had little trouble winning the first game of this series and will probably be looking to sweep the Jazz in Four. Kobe Bryant of the Lakers who has reportedly won this year’s NBA MVP award is looking in good touch and with the help of Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Luke Walton will be looking to put it past a relatively youthful Jazz team.
Utah, which won its second straight Northwest Division crown during the regular season, has made it to the West semis for the second straight year. The Jazz needed six games to eliminate Tracy McGrady and the fifth-seed Houston Rockets in the quarterfinals. Point guard Deron Williams led Utah in scoring (20.8 ppg) and assists (8.5 apg) in the opening round, while All-Star forward Carlos Boozer contributed 16.0 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. The Jazz will be looking to put in a strong performance in game two to avoid going down 2-0 in this best of seven game series.
Match airs live on 10th May on ESPN at 5.30 a.m IST
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