The Jazz have been in this position before. They trail 3-2 in the series with the Lakers but faced the same situation in the first round against Houston last year.

The Jazz had suffered a similarly agonizing 96-92 loss to the Rockets in Game 5 last year but returned home to win Game 6 and then eliminated Houston with a road victory in Game 7. The Jazz are 41-5 at home this season, having beaten the Lakers twice in this series.

"We definitely played a better game this game than the other two," point guard Deron Williams said. "We battled to the end. It's promising. We feel like we can win here. We just got to go back home right now and take care of business at home."

The Jazz never led in Game 5, although they went into the fourth quarter tied 81-81. They tied the score four times in the second half but were unable to push into the lead. They trailed by five with 2:43 remaining.

LAKERS 111, JAZZ 104: The Jazz might not get a better opportunity to win a game at Staples Center than the one they squandered Wednesday night. They couldn't take advantage even with Kobe Bryant taking just 10 shots in the game.

After trailing by 13 and 14 points at halftime of Games 1 and 2 in Los Angeles, the Jazz were down just seven Wednesday. Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was upset afterward about the 42-28 free throw disparity in the game.

In the last two minutes, Lamar Odom dunked off a Kobe Bryant pass and Pau Gasol hit two shots, the second a rebound dunk with 20.5 seconds remaining. Bryant finished with 26 points, seven assists and six rebounds, going 13-for-17 from the line.

"I got a lot out of my back tonight," Bryant said. "I think it was better than I actually thought it was going to be. I was able to spin. I was able to slide defensively, be active, be aggressive."

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