[jtsneaks]

Sans top scorer and perennial All-Star Kobe Bryant the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Utah Jazz Tuesday night in the second half of a back-to-back set. Playing at home Sunday night without Bryant the Lakers dropped a 98-94 decision to the Jazz as a three-point favorite.

The loss was the fourth in a row overall for the Lakers and the second straight at home. They dropped a 100-99 December 28 home decision to the Memphis Grizzlies as a 3.5-point favorite. In that contest Bryant was called for a flagrant foul for an elbow he delivered to the throat of the Grizzlies' Mike Miller as the latter drove towards the basket. The play cost the Lakers two shots and the ball on the flagrant foul call and then cost Bryant two games after it was reviewed by the league.

As luck would have both games were scheduled to be played against the Jazz. Utah took advantage of the situation Sunday night as Andrei Kirilenko scored 23 points and Keith McLeod scored four of his 15 points in the final 78 seconds to grind out a hard fought victory.

"The Lakers did a pretty good job tonight, even without Kobe," Kirilenko said. "There are lots of examples of teams playing even better without their leader, because they try to pick it up and lots of other guys are shining. When he's on the floor, all the attention is on him and we double- and triple-team him. Without him, everybody can score, so you have to spread your attention. I wouldn't say it's harder to play them without Kobe, but it's not easy, either. It's just different."

Bryant won't accompany the Lakers 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.

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 and then clinched it with two free throws with 22 seconds to go.

"We felt like we let one slip away tonight, but it just shows that we all can play at this level," Cook said. "I mean, we love Kobe when he's out there, but we all can play. We don't buy into that stuff about how we don't help Kobe out. We're all competitors and we're all professionals. That's why we're here."

Utah's victory was its fourth in a row. Coupled with Minnesota's loss at Miami, put the Jazz within one-half game of the Timberwolves for the Northwest Division lead despite their 15-16 record. The Jazz' other victories came at home versus Memphis (105-102), at Houston (82-74) and home versus Philadelphia (108-102). They are 7-8 this year at the Salt Palace (6-9 ATS).

The Lakers first two losses on their current four-game skid came at Miami on Christmas Day (97-92) and at Washington the following night (94-91). The Lakers have played better on the road this year than they have at home. They are 9-7 on the road and 6-8 at home for an overall record of 15-15. Against the spread they are 16-14 overall and 12-4 on the road.


I like the Lakers in this game tonight to get the win and love catching the number here...

JT Sneaks