Kobe Bryant looks at his hands after failing to put up a last-second shot during the Lakers' 86-85 loss Tuesday to the Utah Jazz at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times / April 5, 2011)
Wasn't Utah already eliminated from playoffs? Weren't the Lakers supposed to be on a roll?
When the teams met Tuesday at Staples Center, Lakers fans moaned, media members yawned and the basketball had too much trouble finding the bottom of the net . . . especially for Lakers fans.
The Lakers allegedly had discarded their earlier-season issue of losing to bad teams at Staples Center, but undermanned Utah beat them, 86-85, adding its name to a list that already included Milwaukee, Sacramento and Indiana.
Photos: Lakers vs. Jazz
The Lakers were down a point with six seconds left, but the ball flew out of Kobe Bryant's hands as he tried an up-and-under move on Gordon Hayward.
The ball skipped to Utah center Al Jefferson, who fielded it like a shortstop. Inning over. Game over.
"It slipped," Bryant said. "It slipped out of my hands."
The Lakers also let slip any real chance at catching San Antonio for first place in the Western Conference. It's not quite official, but the Lakers (55-22) trail the Spurs by 31/2 games with only a handful to play.
Losers of two in a row after winning 17 of 18, the Lakers now trail Chicago by two games for the second-best overall record. They lead Boston and Miami by one precarious game.
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It's worth mentioning that Utah (37-41) had lost eight consecutive games. The Jazz also played without injured starters Devin Harris, Andrei Kirilenko and Raja Bell, not to mention backup guard Ronnie Price.
Despite it all, the Lakers shot poorly from the start, seemingly unable to put anything together on offense. Bryant had only 20 points on dreadful six-for-18 shooting. He also had seven turnovers, none more costly than the last one.
Andrew Bynum had a career-high 23 rebounds but only 12 points on five-for-13 shooting. Shannon Brown and Luke Walton were a combined two for 10.
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The Lakers shot 37.8% and were also outrebounded, 52-49. Utah had 16 offensive rebounds.
What exactly were the Lakers doing out there?
"Not much," said Pau Gasol, who had 19 points despite a bone bruise on his right knee, perhaps the only solid part of the Lakers' offense.
Said Lamar Odom: "Our energy was bad all the way around."
Bryant hasn't liked the Lakers' effort since a 95-90 loss last Sunday to Denver.
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andrei kirilenko, gordon hayward, staples center, robert gauthier, raja bell, indiana photos, kobe bryant, andrew bynum, al jefferson, center al, utah center, los angeles times, utah jazz, media members, consecutive games, six seconds, shortstop, two games, spurs, meyers
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