Picture Gallery (LADN)

May 14, 2008 - STAPLES CENTER - LOS ANGELES.This time Kobe Bryant's teammates carried him on their shoulders at the end and the Lakers won 111-104 to recover the lead in the Western Conference semifinals.

Kobe Bryant looked good most of the game despite his back problems that started in game 4, and ended with 26 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists, he took only 10 shots and got 13 of his points from the free throw line. In the fourth quarter he didn't attempted a field goal, limiting his contribution to distribute the ball and make 3 free throws to seal the score. But this time he didn't need to force anything because Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom made the big plays and everybody contributed, even some players that were disappeared in action like Jordan Farmar or Vlade Radmanovic.

The game had a peculiar start, with Utah combining dunks and turnovers and Radmanovic giving an initial spark with 10 points that included two 3-pointers to gave the Lakers a 25-16 lead. Radmanovic, who was averaging 5.5 in the first 4 games. finished with 15 points.

After going scoreless in the first quarter, Gasol scored 15 in the second but the Jazz led by Williams stayed in the game and was down by 7 at halftime. The Lakers never trailed but the Jazz tied the score 4 times. Each time either the Lakers escaped or Utah was unable to go ahead. Utah made it even at 69, at 73 and at 81 to close the third period. Two minutes into the fourth the Jazz had a chance to go ahead after Mehmet Okur (13 points, 13 rebounds) was fouled with Utah down by one but he made only one of his free throws for a final tie at 84.

After that, points by Walton, Gasol, Vujacic, Fisher and three dunks by Odom kept the Lakers ahead. Utah got within one (102-103) with 1:17 to go but Gasol scored in the next two possessions, including a dunk after a 3-point attempt missed by Vujacic, it was his 6th offensive rebound.

Both teams started scored in double figures (see highlights below). Jordan Farmar shot 2-for-5 and scored 6 points, including a three-point play with 8:38 remaining that gave the Lakers a 90-86 lead. The backup point guard shot 1-for-16 and scored four points in the previous four games of this series...