Lakers 96, Jazz 71
Kobe Bryant scored 26 points as the host Los Angeles Lakers, playing for the third time in three days, won their first game of the season with a 96-71 victory over Utah on Tuesday in the Jazz's season opener.
The sudden demise of the Lakers (1-2) will have to wait a little longer as they took advantage cold-shooting Utah, which was 29 of 90 (32.2 percent) from the field and 1 of 13 on 3-pointers. At one point in the second quarter, the Jazz were 9 of 43 and finished the half 13 of 50.
The Jazz didn't have a double-figure scorer until the fourth quarter when Paul Millsap scored at 8:53. He finished with 18 points and eight rebounds. Josh Howard scored 10 and Al Jefferson was 2 of 16 for four points.
Pau Gasol had 22 points and nine rebounds, Bryant also had eight rebounds and five assists and Metta World Peace scored 14 for the Lakers, who have won 26 of the last 29 home games - including playoffs - against Utah.
The only drama in the fourth quarter was whether Utah would avoid its worst scoring game in franchise history (59 points). The loss was the second worst in an opener for the Jazz, nearly eclipsing a 103-77 setback at Dallas in 1986.
The Lakers haven't lost their first three games since 1978 - the season before they drafted Magic Johnson with the No. 1 overall pick.
After a close first quarter, the Lakers got emphatic dunks from World Peace and Bryant to take a 35-22 lead. The Lakers continued to pour it on in the third behind 10 points from Bryant and seven from Gasol.