SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (AFP) - Carlos Boozer scored 27 points with 20 rebounds Friday as the Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 104-99 to play their way into their National Basketball Association playoff series.

The Jazz rebounded from two defeats in Los Angeles, narrowing the gap in the best-of-seven Western Conference second-round series to 2-1.

Mehmet Okur scored 22 points and Deron Williams added 18 with 12 assists for the Jazz.

The All-Star Boozer, who scored just 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting in game two, was 12-of-21 from the field, including three crucial baskets down the stretch for the Jazz, who had the best home record in the NBA in the regular season.

League Most Valuable Player Kobe Bryant scored 34 points for the Lakers, who were just 5-of-23 from three-point range.

Game three is on Sunday in Salt Lake City.