So he wasn’t 100 percent. It still didn’t matter because Kobe Bryant made his Laker teammates better relying on them to take the crucial Game Five over the Jazz 111-104 at Staples Center in Hollywood.

Even with a bad back, the 29 year-old league MVP made an impact by scoring 26 while handing out seven assists and grabbing six rebounds to lead the home team to a 3-2 series lead- improving home teams in the second round to a ridiculous 19-1. The Celtics also prevailed in Game Five 96-89 over the Cavaliers earlier last night at TD Banknorth Garden.

Perhaps the extra day off helped Bryant or maybe it wouldn’t have mattered at all cause he’s that great a baller. He might’ve paced the Lakers in scoring but not one shot was taken in the deciding fourth quarter by the unselfish superstar. Instead, he got the ball inside setting up either Lamar Odom or Pau Gasol for dunks. Both had outstanding nights really coming through with Odom scoring 22 with 11 boards plus a couple of blocks while the versatile Gasol finished with 21, six boards, four blocks and a team high eight assists.

It was no accident that the former Grizzlie big man dropped that many dimes as he was that smart with the ball drawing doubles and finding a cutting Odom for easy finishes. The Christ The King product had at least three flushes and a three-point play in crunch time. It was a big time performance by a player who’s taken his share of abuse over the years. He dominated the paint wreaking havoc on Utah.

The Lakers even got 15 out of Vladimir Radmanovic placing all five starters in double digits. He hit two of three from downtown in a 10-point first quarter explosion. His reemergence allowed Phil Jackson’s club to rotate the ball effectively in the triangle offense. Even when a wide open perimeter shot was missed late by Sasha Vujacic, there was Gasol underneath to slam it home for a five-point lead. That critical play came at the wrong time for Jerry Sloan’s Jazz who once again never could get a lead at Staples and just didn’t come up with enough plays to steal home court.

The Jazz got the usual steady performance from Deron Williams, who paced them with 27 and 10 assists. Andrei Kirilenko had a solid game netting 12 with three assists and four steals. Corey Brewer contributed 16 mostly on dunks and lay-ins off nifty Williams’ feeds. Mehmet Okur added a double/double (13 and 13) with a couple of treys.

Who’s MIA? That would be Carlos Boozer, who despite 18 and 12 was very soft blowing numerous shots from in close. Sure. The numbers say he was adequate but anyone who watched knows better because that was the quietest 18 and 12 he’ll probably ever get. Why didn’t he just man up and take over? No Laker can really check him. Even if Odom and Gasol did a decent job. Come on!

He was brutal in this one and really came up small. So despite an 18-13 bench edge, the Jazz lost because Boozer wasn’t assertive enough. Okur and Kirilenko each could’ve had more.

Make no mistake about it. This game was there for the taking. Even if there were a couple of tacky calls against the guys in that ugly powder blue, they had plenty of chances to win it and have a shot at closing out LA in Salt Lake.

Instead, they’re headed home looking to extend it seven on Friday. Does anyone think they can win a Game Seven in LA? Thought so.