Karl Malone said they did not deserve to win.
   
After Kobe Bryant's 40 points fueled the Lakers to a 93-87 win at the Delta Center, Malone fingered the Jazz's lack of "offensive and defensive execution" as the biggest reason for their downfall.

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With 8:18 left in the game, the Lakers capped an 11-2 start to the fourth quarter and grabbed a 74-64 lead.
   
The Jazz called time and, on the bench, it appeared another Sloan-Greg Ostertag confrontation was brewing.