Los Angeles - While league MVP Kobe Bryant struggled with back spams, Utah's Deron Williams made the key play that broke the backs of the Los Angeles Lakers' comeback bid. Williams had 29 points with 14 assists as the Utah Jazz regrouped for a thrilling 123-115 overtime victory over the visiting Lakers on Sunday, to level their Western Conference playoff series at two games apiece.
"Once they sent it to overtime, we still felt we could keep going," said Williams, as the Jazz outscored the Lakers 15-7 in the extra session. "We had energy and we felt we could use our building to our advantage."
The Jazz dropped the first two games of the series in Los Angeles, but return with renewed confidence for swing game five on Wednesday night.
"We are definitely confident now, but we have to win on the road," Williams said. "We don't have home court advantage, but we feel like we are playing better and more equipped to go over there and get a win."
Utah's Mehmet Okur had 18 points with 11 rebounds, Russian Andrei Kirilenko added 15 points with five blocks while Carlos Boozer finished with 14 points and 12 boards.
Bryant led the top-seeded Lakers with 33 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds despite suffering back spasms on a jumper 53 seconds into the game.
"No excuses for me," said Bryant, after missing 20-of-33 field goals, including six-of-seven in overtime. "(AK) Kirilenko did a great job. They did a terrific job. They made big plays when they needed to."
However, Bryant admitted being limited, saying, "You can't run like you want to and you can't cut like you want to."
Lamar Odom collected 26 points and 13 boards for the Lakers. Spain's Pau Gasol had 23 with 10 boards while Derek Fisher finished with 15 points.
The Lakers trailed 100-88 with just over four minutes left in regulation when Fisher scored 10 straight points, including three triples to trigger a 20-8 closing run. Odom's layup with 4.6 seconds left followed Bryant's miss, sending the game into overtime knotted at 108.
The Jazz led 112-110 when Williams spotted Kirilenko cutting inside for an emphatic dunk. The Russian drew a foul and hit the free throw to complete the three-point play, making it 115-110 with 35.5 seconds remaining.
"I saw AK going back door, so I dropped it off to him," Williams said. "He did a great job of going up strong and finishing with a dunk."
Bryant missed a driving layup, and Kyle Korver made both free throws at the other end, pushing the lead to 117-110.
The Lakers pulled within four as Bryant made three free throws after being fouled outside the arc. However, Williams sank four foul shots around two more from Korver in the final 28 seconds to seal the victory.
"We had an opportunity to win the game on the road, that's all you can ask for," Fisher said. "We go back home still in control, if we do the things we are supposed to do."
Elsewhere San Antonio Spurs 100, New Orleans Hornets 80 The Spurs are looking more and more like the defending NBA Champions.
Tim Duncan had 22 points with 15 rebounds, and the Spurs crushed the Hornets, to square their Western Conference semifinal series at two-games apiece.
The Spurs were embarrassed in New Orleans, but the proud champions relied on a stingy defence to take care of business at home.
"We understand by losing one of these home games we are facing elimination," Duncan said. "We were lucky to come back here and right our ship."
The Spurs return to New Orleans for pivotal game five on Tuesday night.
"It's going to be a huge game down there," Duncan said. "We expect they are going to bring it with all they got. We are going to have to match that."
Frenchman Tony Parker scored 21 points while Argentine Manu Ginobili and Ime Udoka added 15 apiece for the Spurs, who led virtually the entire game.
"Our defence was great," Parker said. "We did our job tonight and it's back to zero-zero."
Chris Paul had 23 points for the Hornets, who shot an icy 40 per cent from the floor and trailed by as many as 27.
"I can't explain this one, we got beat in all aspects of the game, but there's no need to panic," Paul said. "Its 2-2, and we have to bounce back. It's a three-game series and the first team to win two games wins it."
Hornets coach Byron Scott provided the explanation, though.
"Our defence has been terrible the last two games, they are just kicking our butts, right now," he said. "We didn't match their effort. They played hard from the get-go for 48 minutes."
Scott also offered the remedy.
"It's all about us getting back to playing basketball," he added. "We have to get that level of intensity back. We have to compete because I don't think we competed tonight."
