SALT LAKE CITY — Happy to be home, the Utah Jazz is desperate for another chance on the road.
Utah hosts Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers, who lead 3-2 and can wrap it up by becoming the first road team to win in the series.
Los Angeles won at home 111-104 on Wednesday to move within a victory of clinching. The Jazz had its most competitive road performance of the series, but still couldn’t overcome the Lakers — even as Kobe Bryant played conservatively with a bad back.
If the Jazz lose Friday, they won’t get another chance.
“If we lose, we go home,” forward Matt Harpring said. “We certainly don’t want to lose on our home court the last game of the year. No way.”
The Lakers have the advantage of knowing a loss won’t end their season. They also know that eventually Bryant’s back will be healthy enough for him to drive to the basket again. But the best thing for Bryant’s back would be ending this series as soon as possible and letting him rest up before the Western Conference finals.
Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson said Bryant and three other starters sat out practice Thursday. He added that Bryant, Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol already know what they need to do tonight, where Utah is 4-1 in the playoffs and went 37-4 in the regular season.
“The message is being under control. It’s about execution at this point. It’s about winning the game,” Jackson said.
Odom said Bryant’s performance in Game 5 was an example for the rest of the Lakers. The league MVP’s back stiffened up in the fourth quarter and he did not attempt a field goal in the period, but still finished with 26 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
“Incredible, as always,” Odom said.
