Kobe Bryant inspires Lakers win over Jazz

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Kobe Bryant delivered another masterclass to guide the Los Angeles Lakers to a 109-98 victory over the Utah Jazz in Game One of their Western Conference semi-final on Sunday.

The stand-out player at a capacity Staples Center, Bryant scored 38 points as the Lakers overcame a spirited second-half fightback by the Jazz to grab a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Urged on by repeated crowd chants of "MVP, MVP", Bryant also contributed seven assists and six rebounds while Spaniard Pau Gasol scored 18 points and forward Lamar Odom 16.

Although Utah center Mehmet Okur, with 21 points, and forward Carlos Boozer, with 15, helped the visitors close to within four points with 4.31 remaining, the Lakers held on for victory.

"We just took our time," All Star guard Bryant told reporters after his team had rallied after surrendering a commanding 19-point lead late in the first half.

"We knew they were going to make a run. The important thing for us was to remain poised and try to execute as best we could."

The Jazz, 4-2 winners over the Houston Rockets in the opening round of the playoffs, outscored the Lakers 58-41 in rebounds.

"They are really aggressive and we haven't seen that too often," Bryant added. "We just have to do a better job in the second game and be more physical in getting those rebounds."

Bryant, widely expected to receive the NBA's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the first time next week, set the tone with 15 points in a high-energy opening quarter.

Although both teams were quick to take advantage of open-court opportunities, the Lakers edged ahead 25-24.

ELECTRIFIED CROWD

Roared on by an electrified home crowd, Los Angeles tightened their grip in the second quarter with a superb display of defense and attack.

Repeatedly turning over Utah possession and lightning-fast on the break, they raced into a 54-41 lead at halftime with reserve Sasha Vujacic adding two three-pointers.

The Jazz steadily clawed their way back with a much improved offence in the third period, Deron Williams nailing a three-pointer just before the buzzer to cut the Lakers' lead to 79-72.

Utah maintained the pressure in the final quarter, trimming the gap to just four points before the Lakers again pulled away.

"It was a game in which we could have easily come up on the losing end with the amount of rebounds and second chances they got out there today," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.

"We were able to sustain that effort late in the game. Maybe it was just the fact that we were well rested that gave us that victory."

Six days ago, the Lakers completed a 4-0 sweep of the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference quarter-final.

Earlier on Sunday, forward Paul Pierce poured in 22 points to help the Boston Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks 99-65 and win their Eastern Conference quarter-final series 4-3 in Boston.

Kevin Garnett added 18 points while Pierce also contributed three assists and 10 rebounds to send the Celtics into the semi-finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Hosts Boston, the best team in the NBA during the regular season after going 66-16, outplayed the Hawks to build a 36-point lead going into the final quarter.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)