In his first game as league MVP, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant puts up a shot between Jazz defenders Paul Millsap, left, and Kyle Korver.

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LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant could not have asked for a better way to celebrate his first MVP award.

He had 34 points, eight rebounds and six assists Wednesday night, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 120-110 to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals and remain the NBA's only unbeaten team in the postseason.

Bryant received his Most Valuable Player trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern in a brief ceremony before the game.

"I'm at a loss for words, I don't know what to say," Bryant told the Staples Center crowd of 18,997 fans chanting "M-V-P, M-V-P." "I love you guys so much. We're going to play until June. Let's get this party started."

Following the presentation, Bryant's wife and two young daughters gave him a bouquet of flowers at center court.

"It was an emotional night for all of us," Bryant said after the game. "We haven't seen Staples Center this electric. It gave me goose bumps. You want to ride the momentum, and we were able to do that."

The Lakers made their first six shots, and after falling behind 13-12, Bryant scored six points during a 13-0 run that put them ahead for good.

"We were never able to gather momentum in the second half, but we never really had that point where we felt threatened in this ballgame," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "We felt that the offense was going well; we were doing things we wanted to do."

The series shifts to Utah for Games 3 and 4 on Friday night and Sunday. The Jazz had an NBA-best 37-4 home record this season, but one of the losses was by 11 points to the Lakers on March 20.

"No expectations, no disappointments," Jackson said regarding the games in Utah.

"We've got to control the tempo; we've got to control the pace. That's big in Utah," Bryant said. "We're a pretty good road team. We're really looking forward to it."

Derek Fisher, who played for Utah last season, added 22 points, Pau Gasol scored 20, and Lamar Odom had 19 points and 16 rebounds for the Lakers, who shot 57.4 percent from the field and made 35 free throws — 22 more than the Jazz.

"We can't foul them," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. "We've put them at the line 89 times (in two games). That's way too many. That was the difference in the game, free throws."

Seven Utah players scored in double figures led by Deron Williams, who had 25 points, including three three-pointers in the last 33 seconds, and 10 assists. Paul Millsap added a career playoff-high 17 points and 10 rebounds, Mehmet Okur had 16 points, five rebounds, five assists and five blocked shots, and Andrei Kirilenko scored 14 points.

Carlos Boozer was held to 10 points — all in the second half. He played fewer than seven minutes in the first half because of foul trouble.

"We feel like we've been in both games; we just haven't been able to get over the hump," Utah's Kyle Korver said.

The Jazz out-rebounded the Lakers 58-41 in Game 1 but lost 109-98. Utah won the battle of the backboards again 41-37 but shot 44.6 percent while attempting a season-high 101 shots — 33 more than Los Angeles.

"There's no need to panic, but they're definitely in control right now," said Williams, who scored three points in the first half. "We've got to protect our homecourt. These next two games are must-wins. If we're down 3-1, it's going to be tough to come back from."