Los Angeles has a chance to close out this best-of-seven series at Utah, but home teams have won the first five meetings straight-up. In fact, the home team is also 3-1-1 against the spread in this Western Conference semifinal. Home teams continue to dominate this postseason, going 20-1 SU while favorites are cashing tickets at a 15-5-1 clip.

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Only one game in this series has been decided by five points or less, and that was a five-point victory by Utah in Game 3. The next contest did go to overtime, but the Jazz eventually prevailed in that matchup by eight points.

Caesars Palace lists Utah as a 3 ½-point home ‘chalk’ over Los Angeles, with the total set at 213. The total has remained constant, while the line originally opened at four. ESPN will provide coverage of Friday’s Game 6 beginning at 10:35 p.m. ET.

Los Angeles (64-27 SU, 53-36 ATS) took a 3-2 series lead with Wednesday’s Game 5 victory as an 8 ½-point home favorite, 111-104. The combined 215 points eclipsed the 212 ½-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ improve to 3-1 the past four games.

The game was tied going into the fourth quarter, but the Lakers outscored the Jazz in the final stanza, 30-23. Utah actually won the rebounding battle, 44-34, but lost the game at the free-throw line. The Lakers shot 34-of-42 from the charity stripe, while the Jazz were 24-of-28.

All five Los Angeles starters reached double digits in scoring, led by Kobe Bryant’s 26 points and seven assists. Forward Lamar Odom added 22 and 11 rebounds, while the bench provided just 13 points and six rebounds. The Lakers finished the game by shooting 47 percent (35-of-74) from the field.

Utah point guard Deron Williams led all scorers with 27 points and 10 assists, while forward Carlos Boozer added 18 and 12 rebounds. The Jazz shot 46 percent (37-of-81) from the field, and 35 percent (6-of-17) from behind the arc.

Los Angeles is 29-16 SU and 29-14 ATS on the road, with the ‘under’ going 25-19. The Lakers have been winning their home endeavors by an average score of 107-102.

Utah has been a classic Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde team all season, going 41-5 SU and 29-13 ATS at home while struggling to a 19-28 SU and 20-27 ATS road record. The Jazz have been winning their home games by an average score of 108-95.

Neither team is listing any players as ‘doubtful,’ ‘questionable’ or ‘probable’ for Game 6. Kobe did skip Thursday’s practice to rest his aching back, and was limited to a playmaking role in Game 5’s fourth quarter.

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