To their credit, they reestablished their edge and won their fifth consecutive game by defeating the Utah Jazz, 113-100, at Staples Center.

To their detriment, however, they struggled to put away a limping, undermanned team that fell to 19-15 this season.

It left behind a lukewarm feeling on a night where Kobe Bryant had 40 points and Pau Gasol had 21, including his 10,000th career point.

Perhaps the crowd said it best, booing lustily when the Lakers failed to hold the Jazz under 100, eliminating the possibility of two free tacos for every fan in attendance.

"They worked us the second half a little bit," said Coach Phil Jackson, who didn't seem too perturbed. "The only thing I'm disappointed about is that we didn't get tacos for our fans. Should have done it. Our defense should have been better."

The Lakers (26-5) hadn't played since Sunday, though a slow start wasn't their problem. They took a 55-35 lead on Vladimir Radmanovic's reverse layup with 2:29 left in the second quarter.

Then came the flashbacks to their struggles last month.

C.J. Miles' three-pointer cut the lead to 65-62 near the midpoint of the third quarter. The Lakers worked it back to 16 early in the fourth, but Andrei Kirilenko's dunk cut their edge to 97-93 with 2:58 to play.

In other words, the Lakers lost two large leads.

Two free throws by Gasol provided a six-point cushion, and Trevor Ariza converted a three-point play after a steal to put the game out of reach.

The Lakers even added a highlight play, Gasol advancing downcourt with the ball, dribbling between his legs and flicking a no-look pass to Ariza for a dunk.

"He's a very skilled player, there's no doubt about it," Jackson said of Gasol. "Perhaps not necessary at that time of the game, but still a demonstration of his skill."

Gasol had 11 rebounds and six assists in addition to his 10,000th point, which came on a free throw with 13.1 seconds to play and allowed him to join a short list with Dirk Nowitzki, Peja Stojakovic and Vlade Divac as the only players to hit the milestone after going directly from Europe to the NBA.

"It's a great accomplishment," Gasol said. "For me to be here in my eighth year now and to reach that goal, I think that's pretty positive. I'm always proud of the job that I do and the little things I keep accomplishing individually and collectively."

The Lakers are more than familiar with the Jazz after playing them 10 times last season, including six games in the Western Conference semifinals.

In fact, Utah was expected to linger among the West leaders this season, though it hasn't happened primarily because of injuries.

Carlos Boozer has missed most of the season and will be sidelined at least another month because of upcoming knee surgery. Even his replacement, Paul Millsap, played with a bulky brace in his first game back from a sprained knee, though it didn't slow him down. Millsap finished with 16 points and 17 rebounds.

Just the same, the Jazz would be out of the playoffs if they started today.

Not so for the Lakers, who keep chugging along, even on nights when they aren't quite right.

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mike.bresnahan@latimes.com

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Home run

Eleven of the Lakers' 16 games in January will be at Staples Center (one with the Clippers as home team).