"Home court has always been big in this league," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said, "and as teams get more and more, I guess, a little closer to each other (in competence) it makes a bigger difference."

Before the game, the Lakers' Jackson conceded it was a "must win" for the Lakers by using tennis terminology.

"We held serve, they held serve," he said, referring to the first four games. "Now it's up to us."

Now it's up to the Jazz to hold serve, Friday in Salt Lake City, where they are 41-5 this season.

"So far, home advantage has been a big thing," Sloan said. "We have to take advantage that we are home Friday, and then see what happens in a seventh game. We went to Game 7 in Houston last year and got it done."

Harpring is counting on Jazz fans to make sure Game 6 in Salt Lake is a prelude to Game 7 in L.A..

"Hopefully our fans will be nice and obnoxious and ready to get a win," he said.