Los Angeles ? As a last hurrah, it could have used a better ending. So much dramatic build up, such a disappointing finish.
At least there was a final charge for the Jazz, though, an unexpected fourth-quarter run led largely by reserves that saw a 22-point Lakers' lead suddenly reduced to a nervous six-point L.A. advantage. Which served to wake the Lakers up, return to their starters to the floor, and seemingly shrink the basket for each Jazz field-goal attempt.
Getting sparks from Paul Millsap and Ronnie Price off the bench, Utah kept pressing away, kept hustling and kept chipping at the Lakers' lead to unexpectedly trail just 95-89 with 3:43 left to play.
A Jazz team that entered Monday's Game 5 down three games to one had belatedly found its stride.
"I was surprised it took something like Ronnie Price's effort to bring us back to life,'' said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. ``I've never seen a guy play that hard in my life in that situation.
"It shows you the mistakes I probably made.''
Price had played a total of two minutes in the first four playoff games. He played 14 minutes Monday, including all of the fourth quarter.
The 6-foot-2 Price finished with eight points, five assists, three rebounds and several bone-jarring screens.
"He nailed guys,'' Sloan said. "He set some tremendous screens. That's how you play Basketball.''
And then there was Millsap, who at 6-foot-8 was giving up several inches inside to the lengthy Lakers, but became an unexpected force inside.
Millsap, who had not hit a field goal in the field goal in the first three quarters, hit on 6-of-8 field goals in the fourth period.
The Lakers have developed a reputation throughout the season, and again in the first round of the playoffs, of having trouble holding onto large leads.
They blew a double-digit lead in Utah when the Jazz rallied to steal Game 3. And here Monday night, a lead that once appeared insurmountable had all but vanished.
The Lakers had trouble maintaining their intensity with the 19-point edge they took into the fourth quarter. They played like it was over, like they were a little bored.
Even the crowd seemed suddenly more interested in celebrity sightings than in watching the game.
The Lakers were still up 93-74 with 8 minutes to play when Millsap went to work. He scored 11 consecutive points, almost all around the rim. In slightly less than 2 minutes, the lead was down to 93-84.
Minutes later, another smooth Kyle Korver three-pointer made it a 95-89 game.
And the big rally had ebbed.
Maybe they got tired. Maybe the Lakers just got serious.
But Price started missing and no one else could seem to find the basket. The final charge died a too quiet death, save for Sloan being ejected on a quick pair of technicals.
