Heat rally past slumping Timberwolves (AP) Updated: 2006-01-02 11:41
But Miami's run to close the half was merely a harbinger of what awaited
Minnesota after halftime, when the Heat took control with the big third-quarter
burst.
Utah Jazz beat Kobe-less Lakers, 98-94
Utah Jazz's Deron
Williams, center, shoots over the outstretched arms of Los Angeles Lakers'
Devean George, right, and Sasha Vujacic of Slovenia, left, in the first
half on NBA basketball game in Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006.
[AP] | LOS ANGELES - Andrei Kirilenko scored 23
points, Keith McLeod scored four of his 15 points in the final 78 seconds and
the Utah Jazz took full advantage of Kobe Bryant's suspension in a 98-94 victory
over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.
Bryant was suspended for two games without pay by the NBA after committing a
flagrant foul against Mike Miller during last Wednesday's overtime loss to
Memphis. Bryant elbowed Miller in the throat as payback for an earlier foul by
Miller, which left Bryant with a gash over his left eye that required three
stitches.
The Lakers' star, who exacerbated the situation with some less than contrite
post-game remarks, will forfeit $289,943 in salary. Bryant won't accompany the
team to Salt Lake City for the second half of the home-and-home set with the
Jazz, but will return to the lineup on Friday night to face Philadelphia and
Allen Iverson — who has a slight lead over Bryant in the league scoring race.
"I wouldn't ask him to go on the trip," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said before
the game. "We want him to stay behind, work out and get an opportunity to
condition himself. It makes no sense for him to go along on the trip and stay in
the hotel while we play."
Brian Cook connected on his first eight shots and finished with 19 points for
the Lakers, who lost their fourth straight game after winning nine of their
previous 11. The third-year forward finished 8-for-10 while playing a
season-high 40 minutes.
The Lakers, also missing Slava Medvedenko, Aaron McKie and Laron Profit
because of injuries, used their seventh different starting lineup due to
Bryant's absence. They were 6-10 last year without Bryant, who missed 14 games
with a sprained right ankle, one with a bruised right shin, and another for
personal reasons.
Both teams shot an identical 29-for-58 through three quarters, with Utah lead
76-73. Devin Brown's 3-pointer with 5:16 left in the second quarter capped a
12-4 spurt that gave the Jazz a 42-32 lead, their biggest of the game, and Utah
never trailed after that.
The Lakers tied the score twice in the fourth quarter —
the second time on a layup by Lamar Odom, who had 18 points and 12 rebounds. But
McLeod regained the lead for Utah with a layup, Luke Walton turned the ball over
to Jarron Collins at the other end, and McLeod's two free throws clinched it
with 22 seconds to go.
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