Kobe Scores Another 40-Point Game To Beat Jazz 90-87 In OT

The win was the first on the road for the Lakers, while Utah dropped its first home game after starting 5-0.

Los Angeles handed the Jazz a 96-71 loss Dec. 27 in Utah's season opener.

This one was close, with Paul Millsap's tip-in tying it at 78 with 21 seconds left in regulation.

Bryant missed a shot at the buzzer that would have won it in regulation for Los Angeles.

Millsap scored the first four points of overtime, but the Lakers fought back, with 3-pointers by Bryant and Pau Gasol.

The Jazz had a chance to win it, but Bynum blocked Jefferson's short jumper.

Millsap led Utah with 29 points.

Bryant sank a pair of free throws for the final margin, then blocked a long 3-point attempt by Devin Harris as the Jazz inbounded with 0.7 seconds remaining in OT.

The Lakers led by six points in the fourth quarter but the Jazz fought back.

Josh Howard's 3-pointer tied it at 76 with 57 seconds remaining. Bryant followed with an off-balance jumper, but Millsap tied it again at 78 with 21 seconds left on a tip-in.

In overtime, Bynum came up big.

His tip-in gave the Lakers an 88-85 lead with 51 seconds left, then he had the block.

Bynum did not play in the first game this season because he was serving a suspension.

The Jazz shot just 38.7 percent.

Jefferson, who had 30 points Tuesday, had just 11 Wednesday on 5-of-17 shooting. He had only two points in the first 19 minutes.

The Lakers jumped ahead 53-50 midway through the third quarter, with Bryant scoring six points in an 8-2 run.

The Lakers bumped their lead to six points, before Jefferson sparked a rally with a baseline jumper and back-to-back blocks.

Steve Blake's 3-pointer and a goaltending call against Utah's Derrick Favors gave the Lakers a 66-61 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Utah led 42-41 at halftime after holding the Lakers to just 15 points in the second quarter.

Neither team shot the ball well in the first half, with the Jazz hitting 43.5 percent of their shots and the Lakers shooting 45 percent.

Utah shot 38.7 percent on the night.

The Jazz opened the second quarter on a 6-0 run, with Utah's bench providing the spark. Favors jammed off the fast break, rookie Enes Kanter powered up a layup despite a defender on the ball, and C.J. Miles grabbed an errant pass and dunked for a 29-26 Utah lead with 9:05 left in the half.

Bryant kept the Lakers right there, with 21 first-half points on 8-of-13 shooting.

NOTES: Lakers forward Jason Kapono was not with the team Wednesday so he could be with his wife, who gave birth Tuesday to twin girls. ... Josh McRoberts (sprainged toe/thumb) and Troy Murphy (stomach ailment) also did not suit up for L.A. ... Jazz guard Raja Bell was assessed a first-quarter technical after giving Bryant a quick shove then having a few words with him. ... Both teams were a combined 1-10 from 3-point range in the first half... Lakers guard Steve Blake suffered a rib contusion in the fourth quarter.

Updated January 11, 2012