Heading into Game 4 on Saturday night at EnergySolutions Arena, Bryant averages a team-high 22.7 points. But he's shooting 38 percent, thanks to a 5-for-24 disaster in Game 3.

All-Star center Pau Gasol averages 20.7 points in this series, but he earns demerits because of 63.6 percent free-throw shooting, including a 4-for-10 effort in Game 3.

Hello, Odom.

A veteran playmaker with the versatility to produce from all three frontcourt positions, Odom averages 17.7 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 68 percent from the field.

Odom's combination of size, quickness and inside-outside ability have always made him a hard-guard for the Jazz.

Behind Bryant, in fact, he has evolved into Public Enemy No. 1-A in Utah.

quot;I just try to use my ballhandling and my length around the basket,quot; Odom said. quot;I try to look for my shot, as well as getting other guys involved. But whatever it is, I shouldn't say anything, so they don't try to take it away from me.quot;

The Jazz have been trying to stop Odom since he joined the Lakers five years ago.

They haven't had much luck.

quot;This is a team I like to play against,quot; Odom said. quot;I like to play here because I'm competitive. I'm a competitor and competition always brings out the best of me.quot;

Odom had 21 points and 14 rebounds in the Lakers' 88-86 loss, which got Utah back into the series.

Did the Lakers let the Jazz off the hook?

quot;No, they played a good game,quot; Odom said. quot;They have one of the best records at home in the NBA and we got what we expected. But we were still right there. It was a one- or two-possession game. They just made more plays that we did down the stretch.quot;

Bryant agreed.

quot;They got themselves back in the series,quot; he said. quot;They played well. They executed extremely well.quot;

For the third straight game, the Lakers squandered a big lead.

In Game 1, the Jazz trimmed a 22-point deficit to nine before losing, 113-100.

In Game 2, Utah cut a 20-point lead to three before losing, 119-109.

In Game 3, the Lakers owned a 13-point lead midway through the third quarter.

quot;We gave them life -- a thing we didn't want to do, obviously,quot; Gasol said. quot;But we gave them some confidence at the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth. We didn't take advantage of our situation and they finished off the game really well.quot;

After managing 17 points in the first quarter, 17 points in the third quarter and 19 points in the first 10 minutes of the fourth quarter, the Jazz completed their comeback by scoring nine points in the final 1:58.

quot;It's something we need to work on,quot; Bryant said, referring to the Lakers' inability to hold big leads. quot;[But] I'd like another chance to do it in the next game.quot;

luhm@sltrib.com Lamar Odom's series stats