So it ultimately didn't matter for Utah that Andrei Kirilenko blocked five shots and nabbed two steals, or that Boozer had a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds, or that the Jazz had a 58-41 rebounding edge, or even that Mehmet Okur had a team-high 21 points and game-high 19 boards.

Rather, the damage was done in large part by Bryant's hot start and the Jazz's own cold hand.

Bryant scored 24 of his 38 in the first half, allowing the Lakers to take a 54-41 lead into the break.

"He's real aggressive," Williams said. "He didn't settle for a lot of jumpers. He's made extra passes. That's why he's the MVP. He just took over the game."

And he took his team along for the ride.

When Odom hit two free throws with seven minutes and 33 seconds remaining in the third quarter, L.A.'s advantage was up to a game-high 19.

The Jazz did trim that to as few as four after Kyle Korver knocked down a 3-pointer and Ronnie Brewer followed with a Williams-fed fastbreak layup, making it 91-87 with 4:44 to go.

But Odom answered coming out of a timeout by cutting through the lane and converting a feed from Gasol, and the Jazz crumbled after that.

At the start of the stretch in which Utah would go without a field goal for more than four straight minutes, Williams missed a layup, Boozer missed a tip and ex-Jazz guard Derek Fisher of the Lakers emerged with the ball following a scramble on the floor.

Late during the run of ineptness, one in which the Jazz got looks they liked but just would not go, Williams took the shot that went up like so many — but did want to come down.

Kirilenko and Williams both missed 3-point attempts on the Jazz's ensuing possession, and the Lakers sealed Game 1 with 8-of-8 free throws in the final 44.1 seconds.

"I'm kind of happy with the way we kind of battled back,"

Kirilenko said, "but we need to make shots. You can't win a game when you don't make shots."

"It makes it frustrating," Harpring added, "because a tap here or a shot there, whatever, could have changed the whole game. But that happens. We have to move on."

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com