Lamar Odom scored 18 points to lead five players in double figures and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 94-79 on Tuesday night in the pre-season opener for both teams.
Sasha Vujacic and Smush Parker each had 13 points for Los Angeles, which played without guard Kobe Bryant, who rested an injured knee, and centre Chris Mihm, who has an ankle problem.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson, still recovering from hip replacement surgery, also didn't make the trip to Fresno's Save Mart Center. Assistant coach Kurt Rambis filled in for Jackson.
Carlos Boozer had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Jazz, while Deron Williams added 16 points. Hiram Fuller, who played at Fresno State, was in Utah's starting lineup in front of nearly 10,000 fans.
After Gordan Giricek's reverse layup cut Los Angeles' lead to 75-70 with 7:39 remaining, the Lakers put the game away with a 12-0 run with Maurice Evans scoring nine points during the surge.
The Lakers led 44-41 at halftime thanks to a late second-quarter rally sparked by Vujacic.
The third-year guard from Slovenia scored off an assist from Kwame Brown to tie the game, then immediately stole the ball from Jazz rookie Ronnie Brewer. Vujacic ran the break and found Ronnie Turiaf for a dunk, giving the Lakers a 41-39 lead.
Vujacic's three-pointer with 41 seconds left then put the Lakers ahead at halftime.
