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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Kobe Bryant made two free throws after a disputed foul with 0.4 seconds left in regulation, and Sasha Vujacic made a 3-pointer with 20 seconds remaining in overtime to lead the Los Angeles Lakers over the Utah Jazz 105-101 Thursday night. The Lakers blew a 14-point lead in the second half, then had to win without Bryant after he fouled out with more than 2 minutes left in overtime. Bryant finished with 30 points and Vujacic scored 11 -- hitting his clutch 3-pointer with the Lakers trailing 101-100. Lamar Odom added a free throw and a defensive rebound, one of his 13 boards, and the Lakers held on for the victory. Deron Williams led Utah with 20 points and seven assists and drew Bryant's sixth foul in the overtime, but Utah didn't score again after the rookie's pullup jumper with 1:11 left. Matt Harpring had 16 points and eight rebounds for the Jazz before fouling out with 1:23 remaining. It was a thrilling but disappointing end for the Jazz, who rallied after falling behind by 14 early in the third quarter. Utah cut the margin to two points seven times before Devin Brown finally tied it for the first time since 2-all with two free throws to make it 89-all with 47 seconds left. After Bryant went 1-for-2 from the line, Harpring drew a foul on Odom and made both free throws to give Utah its first lead of the game, 91-90 with 35 seconds left. Bryant missed a layup with about 8 seconds left and the ball kicked around for a few seconds before Harpring corralled it with 4.3 remaining. But Harpring was just 1-for-2 from the line and the Lakers still had time to set up Bryant for a final shot. Bryant took the inbounds pass and put up a shot just before the buzzer with his foot on the 3-point line. The shot missed, but as Jazz fans celebrated what they thought was a win, official Ron Olesiak was signaling a foul on Brown. The officials put four-tenths of a second back on the clock and Bryant made both shots amid a deafening roar, aimed both at distracting him and in protest of the call after it appeared it was Bryant who hit Brown's arm after taking the shot. The fans cheered again when Bryant was called for his sixth foul after getting Williams on the arm. Bryant stood with his hands out to his side, saying he didn't foul Williams -- but the call stood to the delight of Jazz fans who booed the superstar all game. But the Lakers weren't done. Vujacic made two free throws to put the Lakers up 100-99, then after Williams put Utah back in front, Vujacic was open and drained a 3-pointer. That was it for the Jazz. Notes:@ The Lakers made their first six 3-pointers and missed just once from beyond the arc in the first half. ... Smush Parker tied his career high with 21 points for the Lakers. ... Rookie Andre Owens scored 13 for Utah. ... Four players fouled out.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-12-02-05 0029MST
