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The Leading Logic In Sports Handicapping |
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By Jonathan Raber
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Pau Gasol and the Los Angeles Lakers
again proved they can win at home. Now, they must do it on the
road.
Gasol made two clutch baskets down the stretch as the Lakers
survived with a 111-104 victory and 3-2 series lead over the
Utah Jazz in Game Five of their Western Conference semifinals
matchup Wednesday.
"Obviously, the game was on the line and we had to bring out
everything we had left," Gasol said. "It was a tough game, it
was very physical. They played very aggressively, and we had to
fight for every ball and every possession."
Kobe Bryant had 26 points, seven assists and six rebounds for
the Lakers, who can secure a trip to the conference finals with
a win in Game Six on Friday in Utah.
But it won't come easy as the Jazz were an NBA best 37-4 at home
during the regular season.
Utah was in a similar situation a season ago. The Houston
Rockets had it on the brink of elimination with a 3-2 lead in
their first-round series, before they bounced back to capture
the remaining two games and advance.
"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.
Gasol came through with the game's two biggest baskets in the
last minute. His scoop shot gave the Lakers a 105-102 lead
before his offensive rebound of Sasha Vujacic's missed 3-pointer
and subsequent jam with 20 seconds remaining put Los Angeles
ahead by five.
The Lakers' big man recorded 21 points, eight assists and six
rebounds, and frequently found the open man for easy looks.
"Gasol really opened the game up with his passing tonight,"
Lakers forward Lamar Odom said. "That's why he's so valuable to
this team and so valuable to our execution."
With the Lakers holding a narrow one-point lead early in the
fourth, they were able to get some separation on Odom's
three-point play with 6:19 left that made it 97-91.
The Jazz, who never led, would storm back to within one point on
a 3-pointer by Williams as the shot clock expired with 2:18
remaining.
On the next possession, Bryant spun through the lane and found
Odom open for an uncontested dunk. Mehmet Okur came back with a
layup to get the Jazz again within one, before Gasol finished
them off.
"It's about making the right plays for us to score and get stops
when it comes down to the last two minutes," Gasol said.
Bryant, who injured his back early in Sunday's contest and was
bothered throughout, looked like some of the effects still
lingered in this one. He attempted just 10 shots, but happily
played the role of distributor for Gasol and Odom, who finished
with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
"I knew I wasn't 100 percent healthy, so I wanted to get us off
to a good start, give us an emotional burst," Bryant said. "In
the third quarter, I had a moment where I was able to pick it up
a little bit. In the fourth quarter, Lamar and Pau took it
from there."
The Lakers were able to overcome a pestering Jazz squad, which
was led by Williams, who collected 27 points and 10 assists.
Thanks to the star point guard, Utah stayed close throughout but
could not get over the hump.
"We battled to the end," Williams said. "It's promising, we
feel like we can win here."
After trailing by as many as 12 in the first half, they roared
back to tie the score early in the third en route to an 81-81
tie heading into the fourth.
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