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Y E S T E R D A Y…

Jazz 123, Lakers 115: The Lakers could not find the offensive balance that carried them to a first place finish in the regular season. Pau Gasol dropped 23-points, and Lamar odom had a monster 26, but this time it was Kobe who couldn’t back up his teammates. LA figured out how to hang with the Jazz’s physicality (just ask Ronny Turiaf), but they evidently forgot how to shoot, going 46-97 and mostly scoring from close in. LA showed signs of grit and determination when they tied it up, thanks to both a three point play and a put back with seconds remaining by Odom, but it wasn’t enough to stop the hot hand of the Jazz’s shooters. Look for the Lake Show to put it all together at home on Wednesday after going through the pain of back-to-back losses.

Astros 8, Dodgers 5: Hopefully Hiroki Kuroda and Jonathan Broxton were cordial before this weekend, because Sundays outcome would put a rift between the best of friends, and their mothers too. Kuroda pitched a no-hitter for just shy of 7 innings when Broxton came in and stunk up the joint, giving up 6 runs and 7 hits in under an inning before being yanked for Hong-Chih Kuo. How the Dodgers dropped this one is no mystery. The bull pen lost the game, and the offense falling asleep between the 2nd and 7th didn’t help, either. Message to Joe Torre: You got the offensive lineup partially working after 20-plus games of tinkering. Lets hope the pitching rotation doesn’t take as long.

Rays 8, Angels 5: If this site was titled SportshubTampaBay, we would be raving about the Devil Rays. Unfortunately we have to scold the Angels for letting the Rays rally after Carl Crawford belted one to right field, driving in three runs. The Rays swept the Angels over 3 games, proving that the boys of the OC have some reevaluating to do before pitcher Ervin Santana says, “We feel like we’re going to win every game right now.” But the Halos did show signs of life, snapping a 20-inning scoreless streak, and got offensive production from all the right people (Guerrero, Hunter, Anderson).

T O D A Y…

White Sox at Angels (7:05 pm PST): The previously praised Sunday production is why the Angels shouldn’t be too broken up about their 4-game losing streak. Besides, the White Sox are even streakier, having emerged from their slump to an 18-run burst and three straight victories. Now might be the time for the Sox’s fortunes to turn again.

N E W S W O R T H Y…

• Furcal’s in the mix, let the offensive revolution begin.
• How many Kobe Bryant ‘back’ puns can the media crank out before Game 5? We’re already off and running.
• Angels halo ruined by Devil…Rays.

C O L U M N S…

• Kobe Bryant played with his heart and his head while his body started to fail him, says the LA Times Bill Plaschke. He also vanished in the overtime period, leaving his teammates in the nostalgic position of looking at each other for answers. Plaschke reminisces about Kobe Bryant’s “me” phase, how every now and then, the Kobe of old can come out and try to singlehandedly win a basketball game. Either way, says Plaschke, the Lakers crumbled around Kobe. Why that happened is the question Plaschke poses.
• Steve Dilbeck of the Daily News writes that Kobe’s teammates left him on an island in OT.
• Jeff Miller of the Register says Back is the buzzword for Game 5. Kobe’s specifically.
• Washing Halo unis ain’t all glamour and excitement, as the Times’ Kevin Baxter shares.
• SportsHubLA Column of the Day: Freshman standout O.J. Mayo reportedly accepted gifts including money, T.V.’s, cars and clothes. The allegations come from a former associate of the USC star, Louis Johnson, who said the illegal incentives were provided to Mayoby Rodney Guillory while he was a representative for Bill Duffy Associates Sports Management. In his article, LA Times staff writer Ben Bolch outlines the allegations which are quite damning, they have yet to be commented on by the NCAA. Its safe to say that the consequences of these allegations could mean the stripping of records and wins from this last season. Neither Guillory, Johnson, or Mayo could be reached for comment on Sunday.

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