For the second consecutive game in these Western Conference semifinals, the Jazz played from behind against the Los Angeles Lakers and paid the price. They trailed by 15 at the end of a disastrous first quarter on the way to falling 120-110 in Game 2.

As Bryant finished with 34 points, eight rebounds and six assists on the night he was celebrated with his first MVP award, Carlos Boozer endured a frustrating first half for the Jazz, finishing scoreless with three fouls in just 6:50 of action.

The Lakers shot 57.4 percent for the game and went 35-for-43 from the foul line, shooting nearly three times as many free throws as the Jazz, who went 13-for-16. Deron Williams finished with 25 points and 10 assists and heard the late calls for a sweep.

"They said that after the first game," Williams said. "A lot of people don't think we can even play with this team. We feel like we can. We feel like we haven't even played a good game against them yet. Hopefully we're due for one."

The Jazz will have to fall back on their 39-5 home record this season when they host the Lakers in Game 3 on Friday. Only 13 teams in NBA history have ever come back from 2-0 down to win a best-of-seven series.

One of those teams was the Jazz in last year's first round against Houston. The Jazz won all three games at home in that series and finally broke through with a road Game 7 victory. The Lakers, however, are 6-0 in these playoffs, having swept Denver in the first round.

"That's exactly what I told the guys," Boozer said. "I said, 'We've been here before. We've been down 0-2 before coming back home with the opportunity to tie it up at 2-2 if we can get the first game.' For us, we have to rely on our experience from last season."

The Jazz got as close as 99-94 with 5:58 left after Boozer, who finished with 10 points, hit two free throws. At the other end, Bryant slipped on a drive but still got the ball to Sasha Vujacic for a 21-footer to put the Lakers back in front by seven.

Williams got the ball to Boozer off the pick-and-roll but the Jazz forward was blocked twice in the lane by Lamar Odom and Gasol. The Lakers rotated the ball to Derek Fisher who lined up a straightaway three-pointer and knocked it down to make it 104-94.

It was the last of Fisher's four three-pointers for the game. The former Jazz guard came back to haunt his old team, scoring 22 points and burying two three-pointers in the first quarter after Utah had switched to a zone defense.

With the Lakers leading by 10 in the fourth, Paul Millsap (17 points) threw a pass that sailed through Boozer's hands. Gasol hit two free throws to give the Lakers a 106-94 lead and finished off the Jazz by dunking off a Bryant pass with 2:40 to play.

For the 16th consecutive game, Boozer failed to top his regular-season scoring average of 21.1 points. With his playoff slump deepening, Boozer missed two jumpers and picked up his second personal with 5:29 left in the first quarter.

He returned to start the second quarter but needed only 19 seconds to pick up his third personal. After driving and missing a layup, Boozer fouled Gasol fighting for the rebound.

"Any time any player gets in foul trouble early like I did tonight, it's tough to get into a rhythm in the game," Boozer said. "By that time, you're pressing a little bit more, you're trying to do whatever you can to help your team win, sometimes you rush it a little bit."

The Lakers used a 13-0 run to take a 33-18 lead after the first quarter. The Jazz made 8 of 24 shots in the quarter and committed seven turnovers, with the Lakers totaling four steals and three blocks in the opening 12 minutes.

Bryant was part of the effort, stripping Mehmet Okur as the Jazz center tried to drive in the quarter. Bryant hit a three-pointer with Ronnie Brewer's hand in his face and converted three foul throws sandwiched around a Jerry Sloan technical foul.

After being announced as the MVP winner Tuesday, Bryant was presented with the trophy by NBA commissioner David Stern before the game. The Lakers outfitted their fans with yellow T-shirts reading "Our Team. Our Time. Our MVP." for the occasion.

The Jazz stood watched the ceremony from their sideline. Bryant slapped hands with his teammates, was celebrated with "MVP" chants and declared "We're going to play until June" with May only seven days old.

Bryant dipped into his bag of tricks in a 15-point third quarter, including one shot in which he crossed over Brewer, spun back and hung in the air before hitting a fadeaway 12-foot bank from an impossible angle to give the Lakers an 82-68 lead.

rsiler@sltrib.com

Storylines

* IN SHORT: The Jazz can't spoil the party as Kobe Bryant is presented with his first MVP award and now trail the Lakers 2-0.

* KEY MOMENT: After a Sasha Vujacic jumper, Carlos Boozer is blocked in the lane by Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol with 5:11 left.

* KEY STAT: Only 13 teams in NBA history have come back from 2-0 down in a series, one of them being the Jazz in the first round against Houston last year.