Jazz (16-14) @ Lakers (18-10)

The Lakers are 1-2 in games live-blogged on VHP.

The Lakers come into tonight's match-up fresh off of a big Christmas Day win, after coming out of the road trip relatively unscathed... as I predicted.

And to all the Andrew Bynum haters out there... I stand gallant in my support, and that isn't changing any time soon.

Kwame's back, and hopefully Phil doesn't give cash money the benefit of the doubt. Bynum belongs in the starting position, yet there is always that lingering Phil Jackson threat to reward Brown the starting spot.

Through one quarter
Lakers 38 (yeah, 38!!), Jazz 23

12:00 - On the eve of what is arguably the largest NFL event in the history of regular season football, the Lakes, led by Kobe (of course) are using the momentum from that X-Mas thriller, taking a huge lead over the defensively sound Jazz.

10:41 - Speaking of the holiday, my best wishes to you and yours this holiday season, and I hope you all had pleasant Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Non-religious celebration of winter. Mine was great, highlighted by, of course, the huge win. I'm home for the holidays, in the cozy confines of my home, alongside my dad, doing what we do best; watching basketball.

8:53 - The Lakers are shooting 68% from the field... Now, typically (virtually always) these kind of numbers don't hold up throughout the game, but with the Lakers up 20, It would be nice to see Lakers win BIG leading up to Sunday's contest with the Celtics.

6:22 - Bynum struck early, putting up eight, before grabbing his second foul early, sitting him for the remainder of the first.

5:42 - Kobe has 13 points and 6 assists; Lakers 55, Jazz 34

4:52 - Tech on Jerry Sloan, complaining on a blatant block. Gotta love it!

4:14 - Tech on Kobe for baking his dudes. If anyone saw that play, It looked like some straight-up playground ball.

3:28 - Kobe with the three.

3:08 - KOBE AGAIN! Lakers 67, Jazz 42

0:47 - Kobe's free throws put the Lakers at 73 points; two up on the previous season high of 71 in Phoenix early in the season.

Halftime Score
Lakers 75, Jazz 48

The Lakers have done it up HUGE in the first, scoring 75 points. 75 POINTS! They're on pace to score 150 points tonight.

Kobe is leading the charge with 21 points and six rebounds. Odom has 13, Bynum has eight and six, and D-Fish has seven. Kwame Brown made his first appearance in 19 games, and thus far he has three points, two blocks, and four rebounds in just over 11 minutes.

Third Quarter

11:44 - AK47 will be out or the remainder of the game with a shoulder injury. Kirilenko scored nine points un just under 15 minutes.

9:10 - Lakers up by 19. Everything is going the Lakers way. EVERYTHING.

8:07 - D-Fish just toilet bowled one in for three... Did I mention that EVERYTHING is going the Lakers' way?

7:10 - Kobe has 30 points... that's one over his average... with 7 minutes left in the third.

4:11 - We're really starting to like how Ariza is coming out of his shell as his playing time increases. That trade way back when was a good move. That was clear awhile ago, but I'm owning it now.

2:47 - Bynum takes a seat with four fouls. He's got 10 and nine.

0:00 - Farmar stepped it up and nailed a long three to close out the third.

Through three quarters
Lakers 109, Jazz 74

10:44 - Ariza is 2-7 from the line tonight. He's drawing fowls, and not following through.

9:33 - 107-83... If the Lakers pull a Sunday v. Knicks and give up this lead, I just might lose my cool... They're lucky they pulled out of that one with a win, because, as we know, a win is a win... BUT, a loss ISN'T a loss when it's to the Knicks... it's worse.

8:37 - Portland got their 12th straight win tonight over the T-Wolves. They face the Sixers on Sunday at 3:30pm PT.

6:21 - Vlad Rad must be sick or something... He's playing like he's intoxicated.

5:59 - Horrific call by the refs just now. They called a shot-clock violation on a play in which the ball CLEARLY hit the rim. It's good to see Phil getting in the face of officials despite the big lead. belichick-esque? I think not. That ball blatantly bounced off the rim, and the lakers lead is down to 20... As Stu said, they are lucky that it's not a close game, because that was a horrible call.

2:42 - Sasha went down awkwardly earlier in the quarter, and it has been confirmed that it is a sprained ankle, and will be re-evaluated later.

2:32 - 117-101 ... There go the tacos. Boos rain on Staples Center.

1:34 - Farmar nailed a three; he's got 13.

0:11 - Vlad Rad just missed a dunk...

Final Score
Lakers 123, Jazz 109

Post Mortem:
With tonight's win, the Lakers set themselves up perfectly for the hottest ticket in LA; Sunday's showdown with the 24-3 Celtics. Coming off of two wins over two upper-echelon teams, the Lakers couldn't ask for more leading up to their second, and final match-up with the Celtics this season. Their first meeting resulted in a 107-94 win Boston.

As for tonight's contest, Kobe put up 31 points with seven assists despite not playing for the entirety of the fourth quarter. Lamar has 17 points with eight rebounds and seven assists, Jordan Farmar carried the weight in the fourth, scoring 14, and Trevor Ariza managed to score 12 points, despite his awful showing from the line. D-Fish score 10 with eight assists, and Andrew Bynum scored 10 with eight rebounds.

For Utah, Carlos Boozer scored 20 and 11, Ronnie Brewer and C.J. Miles both put up 18, and Ronny Price added 12.

The Lakers improve their record to 19-10 on the season, as Utah's record falls to 16-15.

The Lakers face Boston (24-3) on Sunday at 6:30pmPT.

My main concern going into Sunday's game is Phil Jackson's propensity to start Kwame Brown over Andrew Bynum at center. Though this is unlikely, Jackson had noted that starting Brown once healthy was a possibility. Brown scored seven points in 17 minutes tonight.

The Lakers are now 2-2 in games live-blogged on VHP ...don't call it a comeback!