Jazz hold off Lakers to tie series

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Utah Jazz held off the Los Angeles Lakers for a 123-115 overtime victory to tie up their best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final series at 2-2 on Sunday.

The Jazz, playing at home, gave up a 12-point lead in the final 4:21 of regulation but led throughout overtime to beat the Lakers for a second successive game.

"We just kept our composure," Deron Williams, who had 29 points and 14 assists, told reporters. "Once we sent it into overtime, we felt like we could still keep going."

The Jazz also took advantage of back spasms that slowed Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. He still scored 33 points and had 10 assists but had two shots blocked by Utah's Andrei Kirilenko in overtime.

The San Antonio Spurs also rebounded from a 0-2 start, defeating the New Orleans Hornets 100-80 to tie their Western semi-final series at 2-2.

Tim Duncan had 22 points and 15 rebounds for the NBA champions while Tony Parker added 21 points.

Chris Paul scored 23 points for New Orleans but received little support from those around him.

Williams did not have that problem in Salt Lake City as five of his team mates joined him in double figures.

Mehmet Okur had 18 points and 11 rebounds, Kirilenko blocked five shots and scored 15 points and Carlos Boozer contributed 14 points and 12 rebounds.