This Western Conference semifinals contest is now a best-of-three series after home teams followed serve the first four games. Los Angeles and Utah have gone 4-0 straight up and 3-0-1 against the spread as the home squad, following a NBA postseason trend that has seen the home side go 17-1 SU and 14-3-1 ATS after Tuesday's action.

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Despite having this series tied at two games apiece, Los Angeles remains a decided $4.50 favorite (bet $450 to win $100) to win this series and advance to the next round. Utah is currently listed as a $3.25 underdog (bet $100 to win $325) to advance to the Western Conference finals for the second consecutive season.

Los Angeles guard Kobe Bryant is listed as ‘probable’ for Wednesday’s Game 5 due to a back injury suffered in Sunday’s setback, while forward/center Ronny Turiaf (not suspended) is also ‘probable.’ Utah is listing no players as ‘questionable’ or ‘probable’ for this contest.

Caesars Palace currently lists the Lakers as an 8 ½-point home ‘chalk’ over Utah, with the total set at 214. The total has remained unchanged, but Los Angeles opened as a nine-point favorite. Wednesday’s Game 5 is slated to start at 10:35 p.m. ET from Staples Center, with TNT providing coverage. This best-of-seven series follows a 2-2-1-1-1 format.

Utah (60-32 SU, 48-40 ATS) evened this series at two games apiece with an overtime victory in Sunday’s Game 4 as a home ‘pick,’ 123-115. The combined 238 points soared ‘over’ the 211-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ improve to 2-1 the past three games.

The Jazz opened up a 10-point first-quarter advantage (31-21) before Los Angeles tied things up at halftime by outscoring Utah in the second period (34-24). Both teams recorded 41 rebounds, but the Jazz prevailed by shooting a blistering 53 percent (40-of-76) from the field.

Utah point guard Deron Williams stepped up with 29 points on 9-of-13 shooting while dishing out 14 assists. Five other players also reached double digits in scoring, led by center Mehmet Okur’s 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Los Angeles (63-27 SU, 53-35 ATS) finished the game by connecting at a 47-percent clip (46-of-97) from the field, and 37 percent from behind the arc (9-of-26). Bryant led all scorers with 33 points along with eight rebounds and 10 assists, while forward Lamar Odom added 26, 13 and two.

Utah has struggled to a 19-27 SU and ATS road record, with the ‘over’ going 24-21. The Jazz dropped the first two games of this series on the road by a combined 21 points.

Utah has lost the past six games against the Lakers in Staples Center SU and ATS. The last time the Jazz won on the road against the Lakers occurred on New Year’s Day 2006 as a two-point underdog, 98-94. The ‘over’ is 5-2 the previous seven meetings between these teams in Tinseltown.

Los Angeles maintains a 34-11 SU and 24-21 ATS home ledger, with the ‘over’ going 24-20. The Lakers have been winning their home endeavors by an average score of 111-102.

Brad Young can be reached at byoung@vegasinsider.com.