KOBE BRYANT had 34 points, eight rebounds and six assists, as the Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 120-110 to take a 2-0 lead in Los Angeles on Wednesday night in the Western Conference semifinals and remain the NBA’s only unbeaten team in the postseason.

Bryant received his Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern in a brief ceremony before the game.

The Lakers made their first six shots, and after falling behind 13-12, Bryant scored six points during a 13-0 run that put them ahead for good.

The series shifts to Utah for Games 3 and 4 Friday night and Sunday. The Jazz had an NBA-best 37-4 home record this season, but one of the losses was by 11 points to the Lakers on March 20.

Derek Fisher, who played for Utah last season, added 22 points, Pau Gasol scored 20, and Lamar Odom had 19 points and 16 rebounds for the Lakers, who shot 57.4 percent from the field and made 35 free throws — 22 more than the Jazz.

Seven Utah players scored in double figures led by Deron Williams, who had 25 points, including three 3-pointers in the last 33 seconds, and 10 assists. Paul Millsap added a career playoff-high 17 points and 10 rebounds, Mehmet Okur had 16 points, five rebounds, five assists and five blocked shots, and Andrei Kirilenko scored 14 points. Okur and Kirilenko both fouled out in the final minute.

Carlos Boozer was held to 10 points — all in the second half. He played less than seven minutes in the first half because of foul trouble.

The Jazz outrebounded the Lakers 58-41 in Game 1, but lost 109-98. They won the battle of the backboards again 41-37, but shot 44.6 percent while attempting a season-high 101 shots — 33 more than Los Angeles.

The Jazz outscored the Lakers 11-4 to get within five points with just under six minutes to play. But a jumper by Sasha Vujacic, a 3-pointer by Fisher and a free throw by Gasol, extended the Lakers’ lead to 105-94 with 4:26 left.

A three-point play by Kirilenko made it 107-99 before Bryant fed Gasol for a dunk with 2:40 to go, and the Jazz weren’t closer than six points after that.

The Jazz drew within nine points early in the third quarter before Bryant outscored them 9-4 by himself to make it 82-68. A 3-pointer by Williams with 1.5 seconds left in the third quarter trimmed the Lakers’ lead to 93-83.

In another game Wednesday night, Rashard Lewis scored a career playoff-high 33 points as the Magic beat the Detroit Pistons 111-86.

(SD-Agencies)

KOBE BRYANT had 34 points, eight rebounds and six assists, as the Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 120-110 to take a 2-0 lead in Los Angeles on Wednesday night in the Western Conference semifinals and remain the NBA’s only unbeaten team in the postseason.

Bryant received his Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern in a brief ceremony before the game.

The Lakers made their first six shots, and after falling behind 13-12, Bryant scored six points during a 13-0 run that put them ahead for good.

The series shifts to Utah for Games 3 and 4 Friday night and Sunday. The Jazz had an NBA-best 37-4 home record this season, but one of the losses was by 11 points to the Lakers on March 20.

Derek Fisher, who played for Utah last season, added 22 points, Pau Gasol scored 20, and Lamar Odom had 19 points and 16 rebounds for the Lakers, who shot 57.4 percent from the field and made 35 free throws — 22 more than the Jazz.

Seven Utah players scored in double figures led by Deron Williams, who had 25 points, including three 3-pointers in the last 33 seconds, and 10 assists. Paul Millsap added a career playoff-high 17 points and 10 rebounds, Mehmet Okur had 16 points, five rebounds, five assists and five blocked shots, and Andrei Kirilenko scored 14 points. Okur and Kirilenko both fouled out in the final minute.

Carlos Boozer was held to 10 points — all in the second half. He played less than seven minutes in the first half because of foul trouble.

The Jazz outrebounded the Lakers 58-41 in Game 1, but lost 109-98. They won the battle of the backboards again 41-37, but shot 44.6 percent while attempting a season-high 101 shots — 33 more than Los Angeles.

The Jazz outscored the Lakers 11-4 to get within five points with just under six minutes to play. But a jumper by Sasha Vujacic, a 3-pointer by Fisher and a free throw by Gasol, extended the Lakers’ lead to 105-94 with 4:26 left.

A three-point play by Kirilenko made it 107-99 before Bryant fed Gasol for a dunk with 2:40 to go, and the Jazz weren’t closer than six points after that.

The Jazz drew within nine points early in the third quarter before Bryant outscored them 9-4 by himself to make it 82-68. A 3-pointer by Williams with 1.5 seconds left in the third quarter trimmed the Lakers’ lead to 93-83.

In another game Wednesday night, Rashard Lewis scored a career playoff-high 33 points as the Magic beat the Detroit Pistons 111-86.

(SD-Agencies)