SoCal NBA Playoff Preview

LA Lakers at Utah, 7:30 pm, ESPN
Western Conference semifinals
Lakers lead, 3-2

SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) - The Los Angeles Lakers are no longer a one-man band. The top-seeded Lakers will look to advance on Friday when they try to close out the Utah Jazz in Game Six of their Western Conference semifinals series.

Bryant collected 26 points, seven assists and six rebounds to lead Los Angeles to a 111-104 win over Utah on Wednesday at the Staples Center in Game Five. Despite Bryant's all-around performance, the reigning league MVP was rather quiet during the fourth quarter, allowing Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol to take center stage. The duo combined for 43 points. "In the third quarter, I had a moment where I was able to pick it up a little bit," Bryant said. "In the fourth quarter, Lamar and Pau took it from there." "Gasol really opened the game up with his passing," said Odom, who had 22 points and 11 boards in the win. "That's why he's so valuable to this team and so valuable to our execution."

However, the Lakers might need more than just a collective effort in Game Six as the home teams are an impressive 19-1 in the four NBA conference semifinals. "We just got to protect home court, go back and get our confidence back, hopefully, win that one and be out here for Game Seven," Jazz guard Deron Williams said. Utah posted the best mark at home during the regular season at 37-4 and holds a 4-1 record in the postseason - including wins in Game Three and Four over the Lakers.

"We've got two left (games) with them," Utah forward Carlos Boozer said. "We've got to win (Friday) night to have the second one." With his team down 3-2 in the series, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan feel very confident about the situation his club is in. "I think it's exciting myself. I always have loved to be in those situations," he said. "If you like to play, what better position could you be in? They have to come and beat us, and we hope we don't beat ourselves."