With just four days to go until the opening night showdown with the Los Angeles Clippers, the Lakers take on the Utah Jazz in their preseason finale from the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA.
On Tuesday the Lakers picked up their third preseason win over these same Jazz by a final score of 108-94. The Lakers were led by an outstanding performance from their bench with Jordan Farmar, Jodie Meeks, and Wesley Johnson combining for 49 points. The Lakers look to build on that performance with one last win.
First Quarter
Lakers get out to a quick start with a Shawne Williams corner three followed by a Pau Gasol jump hook. Blake is struggling to contain Gordon Hayward who hits his second three pointer to give the Jazz an early 16-12 lead. Lakers continue to sag off shooters as Richard Jefferson knocks down a three. Steve Blake knocks down back to back three pointers to tie the game at 21. Mass subs at the three minute timeout to bring in Farmar, Hill, Meeks, and Henry who join Wesley Johnson on the floor. Defense clamps down as the teams struggle to score until a great transition putback by Johnson. Lakers offensive rebounding woes come back as Jazz get multiple chances before a Rudy Gobert dunk. Those end up as the final points of the quarter as we are tied at 23.
Second Quarter
Two Xavier Henry free throws start off the scoring in the second. Jordan Hill with an impressive spin move through a double team and a huge slam followed by a Jordan Farmar layup and foul to give the Lakers a 30-26 lead two minutes into the quarter. Johnson continues his great work on the boards as he’s playing the small ball 4. Farmar gets a steal and a transition three to push the Laker lead to six. Henry with a three pointer followed by a steal and great transition passing that leads to a Wesley Johnson and-1 pushing the Laker lead to 11. Lakers reserves outscore Jazz 17-6 before the starters come back in with seven minutes left. Jazz immediately go on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to two. Lakers starters struggling to get anything going offensively as the Jazz tie the game on a Hayward layup. Jazz continue their run as its up to 19-2 and the Jazz take a 48-42 lead before a Gasol jumper and Nick Young three finally ends the skid. Young knocks down two free throws to end the half as the Lakers trail 53-51.
Third Quarter
Gasol starts the quarter with a nice turnaround jumper and back-to-back threes by Shawne Williams and Steve Blake give the Lakers a quick three point lead. Shawne Williams with a huge block on Enes Kanter leads to a Blake midrange jumper who is now 5-5 in the game. Terrible transition defense leads to a wide open Lucas layup to cut the Lakers lead back to three. Great pass from Blake to Young for a fast break layup to push the lead to seven as the Lakers start the quarter on a 15-6 run. Beautiful pass from Gasol to Nash for an easy layup and a 10 point lead. Offenses on both sides stall, but a Hayward fast break layup cuts the lead to nine. Young with a nice stepback to push the lead to 10 before another offensive rebound and putback by Brian Cook puts it right back to eight. Great pass from Nash to Shawne Williams for an and-one. Another great pass from Nash to Williams sandwiched between two huge Steve Blake three pointers end the quarter as the starters play the entire quarter and the Lakers lead 88-73.
Fourth Quarter
Bench back in the game to start the quarter as Farmar, Henry, Meeks, Johnson, and Hill are in the game. Couple of bad possessions by Henry followed by an and-one by Alec Burks cuts the lead to nine. Beautiful Farmar three puts lead right back to 12. Roles reversed as bench is struggling to get offense going after starters establish a big lead. Jazz start quarter on a 12-5 run to cut lead to eight. Hill with a big jump hook to end the Jazz run. Hill with another amazing spin move and slams it over Gobert. A couple more bad offensive possessions allow Utah to cut the lead to six. Lester Hudson three cuts the lead to four but Wesley Johnson with a great drive and dunk followed by a steal and layup gives the Lakers a cushion. Hill with a rebound and putback and a Farmar layup push the lead back to double digits. More offensive rebounding problems and a turnover allow the Jazz to cut into the lead again but the defense clamps down in the end. The Lakers end their preseason with a 4-4 record with a 111-106 win.
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