"I really don't think that he purposely tried to hurt me," Price said. "He probably just kept playing, just how I did. I don't think he had any bad intentions on fouling me like that. It's basketball. Things happen. I'm over it, and I hope that whatever happens with him is not too critical."

Turiaf drilled Price as the Jazz guard drove baseline with 10:07 left in the quarter. Sasha Vujacic was called for the foul on the play, but Turiaf led with his forearm after the whistle and laid out Price, who banged his head on the floor to open the gash over his eye.

"I haven't seen the play," Price said. "I don't know how he hit me or what happened. We got the win. That's all that matters right now."

Turiaf, who was assessed a second-degree flagrant foul, apologized after the game, said he wasn't trying to hurt anybody and called it a case of a big forward colliding with a small guard. The Lakers had to turn to D.J. Mbenga in Turiaf's absence in the second half.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson disagreed with the ejection, saying Price was out of control on the drive.

"Ronny did go up to block the shot, but I think he entirely played the ball," Jackson said. "I haven't seen a call like that. I was very surprised [Turiaf] was put out of the ballgame."

No reservations

The Jazz went into the fourth quarter with a 79-75 lead, but pushed in front by 10 with a lineup of Price, Kyle Korver, Matt Harpring, Paul Millsap and Mehmet Okur on the floor. They outscored the Lakers' reserves 11-5, getting contributions from everyone.

"Something came over us," Millsap said. "We got really excited before the fourth quarter, we were like, 'It's our bench against their bench.' We got out there with a lot of intensity and played hard and got it up to a [10]-point lead."

Escape from L.A.

To win this series, the Jazz will have to win at least once at Staples Center, where they are 3-16 all-time against the Lakers. They are 0-4 this season, with all four losses coming by double digits.

"Even before the season, I said there is only two teams in the West which we have like uncomfortable [time] to play, especially away," Andrei Kirilenko said. "San Antonio and L.A."

Briefly

Walt Perrin, the Jazz's vice president of player personnel, reportedly is a candidate to be Hawks' general manager, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

rsiler@sltrib.com