Okur`s Late Triple Helps Jazz Pip Lakers

The Jazz (30-23) kept the ever-dangerous Lakers (42-10) in the contest by missing nine free throws in the fourth quarter.

Utah Jazz forward Mehmet Okur made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 42 seconds left to help his team edge past the NBA-best Los Angeles Lakers 113-109 on Wednesday.

Deron Williams had a team-high 31 points and 11 assists and Okur tallied 22 and eight rebounds as the Jazz snapped the Lakers' seven-game winning streak in the last contest before both teams head into the All-Star Break.

"That's what I was waiting for. I knew it was coming to me so I was ready," Okur told reporters about his decisive jump shot.

"It was a playoff type game in the last four minutes," he said. "Every game is a big game, especially after (the) All-Star Break."

Kobe Bryant had nine of his 37 points in the game's final seven minutes. The All-Star guard converted on a steal and a layup to tie the game at 107 with 1:01 remaining.

Utah responded with a set play that freed its 7-foot sharpshooter for a game-winning triple and the Jazz recorded their fourth win in the last five contests.

Utah held a 101-92 advantage with 5:58 remaining in the game before Los Angeles used a 13-3 spurt to go up 105-104 after a pull-up 3-pointer by Bryant with 1:36 to go.

The Jazz (30-23) kept the ever-dangerous Lakers (42-10) in the contest by missing nine free throws in the fourth quarter.

Los Angeles forward Lamar Odom finished with 19 points and 19 rebounds, continuing to thrive while filling the hole left in the starting lineup by injured center Andrew Bynum, out with a knee injury.

The Lakers had swept to victory in their six-game road trip, including back-to-back wins over the two top Eastern Conference teams Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, before the game.

"We expect to win every game we play," Odom said. "So it makes you think about the games that slip away. That's why I'm clearly not feeling good about this."

The Jazz moved into eighth place in the competitive Western Conference with the win. They are still without injured starting forwards Carlos Boozer (knee) and Andrei Kirilenko (ankle).