NBA: Los Angeles Lakers 107, Utah 96

LOS ANGELES, April 28 (UPI) -- Kobe Bryant had 31 points Monday and the Los Angeles Lakers fought off a late rally to beat Utah 107-96 and advance to the Western Conference semifinals.

Lamar Odom finished with 26 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers, who eliminated the Jazz in five games. Pau Gasol had 17 points and 11 rebounds for LA, which will face the winner of the Portland Trail Blazers-Houston Rockets series.

Fifth-seeded Houston leads Portland 3-1, with Game 5 set for Tuesday in Portland.

The Lakers enjoyed a comfortable lead until Paul Millsap -- who had 16 points -- led a fourth-quarter comeback attempt. Deron Williams and Andrei Kirilenko had 14 points each for Utah.

Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan was ejected with just over a minute left to play after arguing with game officials about a lack of foul calls against LA in the closing moments of the game.