LOS ANGELES — Just when it appeared the Los Angeles Lakers needed Kobe Bryant the most, he provided the least.

The strategy, planned or otherwise, worked to perfection.

Bryant scored 26 points despite not attempting a field goal in the fourth quarter, and the Lakers extended the stunning home success by NBA teams in the second round of the playoffs by beating the Utah Jazz, 111-104, last night to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.

The Lakers, who never trailed, can advance to the conference finals for the first time since 2004 with a victory tomorrow night in Utah. But if form prevails, the teams will be playing a seventh and deciding game Monday night at Staples Center, where Los Angeles has a 17-3 record against the Jazz since the arena opened before the 1999-2000 season.

Home teams have won 19 of the 20 games played in the second round. The Lakers are the top-seeded team in the Western Conference, meaning they have home-court advantage through the first three rounds of the postseason.

Bryant tweaked his back in the opening minutes of Sunday's 123-115 overtime loss at Utah that tied the series. Sore back and all, he had 33 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists while playing 46 minutes.

"I just had to pick my spots," he said. "I knew I wasn't 100 percent healthy, so I wanted to get us off to a good start, give us an emotional boost. Then in the third quarter, there were moments where I had to pick it up, and I was able to do that. "

CELTICS 96, CAVALIERS 89

BOSTON — Someone is going to have to beat the Celtics in Boston to keep them from winning their 17th NBA title.

Cleveland is hoping for one more chance.

Kevin Garnett had 26 points and 16 rebounds, and Rajon Rondo added 20 points and 13 assists as the Celtics beat the Cavaliers last night to move within a win of the Eastern Conference finals. Game 6 is tomorrow night in Cleveland.

"We know it's a win-or-go-home situation. We've got to approach it that way," said LeBron James, who scored 23 of his 35 points in the first 20 minutes and then went cold again. "We're a very good team at home. But a LeBron James team is never desperate."

Paul Pierce scored 29 points and helped shut down James for much of the second half. James scored just two points in the third quarter when the Celtics turned a 46-43 halftime deficit into 72-63 lead entering the final quarter.

"Whether we get 35 or 20 (from James), it doesn't matter at this point," Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. "To lose the game ... that's what's more disappointing than anything else. Whether he gets this or that, I'm not really concerned, because he's going to contribute in other ways."