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NBA: LA Lakers 108, Utah 105

SALT LAKE CITY (UPI) -- Kobe Bryant hit two of Los Angeles' five clutch free throws down the stretch Friday that allowed the Lakers to eliminate Utah from the playoffs 108-105.

The Jazz trailed by double digits most of the night, but came back to have two shots at tying the game in the final three seconds. The three-point attempts by Mehmet Okur and Deron Williams, however, bounced off the rim, putting the Lakers into the Western Conference Finals.

Los Angeles knocked Utah out in six games and will await the winner of the San Antonio-New Orleans series.

Bryant scored 34 points and a quick Lakers start seemed likely to send them to an easy triumph. Utah trailed by 19 points at the half and still faced a 16-point deficit entering the fourth quarter.

The Jazz got within three before Lamar Odom hit two foul shots for the Lakers with 19.4 seconds left. Utah then closed within two, only to have Bryant make two free throws with 15.5 seconds to play.

Again Utah got within two and this time, Derek Fisher made just one free throw, giving the Jazz a brief chance to send it to overtime.

Williams led Utah with 21 points.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

This news arrived on: 05/17/2008

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