Lakers beat Jazz to edge closer to conference finals

By David Zemanek

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom picked up the slack with MVP Kobe Bryant slowed by a sore back to lift the Lakers to a 111-104 over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, putting the home team one win from the Western Conference finals.

Gasol scored a pair of buckets after the Jazz closed to 103-102 to give the Lakers to a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series that shifts to Salt Lake City on Friday.

The series now goes back to Utah for a possible Laker close-out in Game Six. Should the Jazz win on their home court, the series finale will be played back at the Staples Center.

Bryant established himself early and showed flashes of his top form in the third quarter, faking out Jazz guard Deron Williams to waltz in for a layup.

As Utah defenders closed in, Bryant gave the ball up to his team mates and they responded to produce a true team win for the Western Conference top seeds.

All five Laker starters finished with double-figures in scoring.

Kobe led the winners with 26 points and seven assists to go along with two steals.

Odom hauled in 11 rebounds to go with his 22 points, and Gasol tallied 21.