NBA - Lakers over Jazz 111-104

Lakers take 3-2 lead in series

The Los Angeles Lakers took a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinals with a 111-104 win over the Utah Jazz and can eliminate the Jazz when the teams meet in Salt Lake City Friday.

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 26 points, half of which came from the free throw line.

LOS ANGELES -- Pau Gasol made the key plays down the stretch Wednesday that produced a 111-104 Los Angeles Lakers victory over Utah.

Los Angeles took a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinals and can eliminate the Jazz when the teams meet in Salt Lake City Friday.

Having won two straight on their own court, the Jazz battled the Lakers throughout and pulled within one point with 2:13 to play on a three-pointer by Deron Williams.

The Lakers still had a one-point lead when Gasol made a layup with 60 seconds to go, after which Utah's Mehmet Okur missed a three-point try.

Sasha Vujacic next missed a three-point attempt for the Lakers, but Gasol claimed the offensive rebound and put in a layup to give the Lakers a 107-102 advantage with 19 seconds to play.

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 26 points, half of which came from the free throw line. Lamar Odom added 22 and Gasol had 21.

Utah was paced by Williams with 25 points.