KOBE BRYANT delivered another master class to guide the Lakers to a 109-98 victory over the Utah Jazz in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal in Los Angeles on Sunday.

    Bryant scored 38 points as the Lakers overcame a spirited second-half fightback by the Jazz to grab a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

    Urged on by repeated crowd chants of “MVP, MVP,” Bryant also contributed seven assists and six rebounds while Spaniard Pau Gasol scored 18 points and forward Lamar Odom 16.

    Although Utah center Mehmet Okur, with 21 points, and forward Carlos Boozer, with 15, helped the visitors close to within four points with 4.31 remaining, the Lakers held on for victory.

    Bryant, widely expected to receive the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the first time next week, set the tone with 15 points in a high-energy opening quarter and the Lakers edged ahead 25-24.

    The Jazz steadily clawed their way back with a much improved offence in the third period to cut the Lakers’ lead to 79-72 and maintained the pressure in the final quarter, trimming the gap to just four points before the Lakers again pulled away.

    Earlier on Sunday, forward Paul Pierce poured in 22 points to help the Boston Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks 99-65 and win their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series 4-3 in Boston. Kevin Garnett added 18 points while Pierce also contributed three assists and 10 rebounds to send the Celtics into the semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. (SD-Agencies)

2008 NBA playoffs

Conference quarterfinals

Eastern

(8) Atlanta Hawks vs. (1) Boston Celtics

Celtics win series 4-3

(7) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (2) Detroit Pistons

Pistons win series 4-2

(6) Toronto Raptors vs. (3) Orlando Magic

Magic win series 4-1

(5) Washington Wizards vs. (4) Cleveland Cavs

Cavs win series 4-2

Western

(8) Denver Nuggets vs. (1) Los Angeles Lakers

Lakers win series 4-0

(7) Dallas Mavs vs. (2) New Orleans Hornets

Hornets win series 4-1

(6) Phoenix Suns vs. (3) San Antonio Spurs

Spurs win series 4-1

(4) Utah Jazz vs. (5) Houston Rockets

Jazz win series 4-2