Bryant’s 25 help extend series

LOS ANGELES (AP) — As purple-and-gold streamers rained down, Lamar Odom shook his head in approval, Derek Fisher caressed the game ball against his chest and Kobe Bryant clapped his hands before striding from the floor.

“I love L.A.” blared through the speakers and “Not In Our House!” flashed on the scoreboard.

The P.A. announcer cried, “This is not over yet!”

Bryant scored 25 points, including a decisive dunk in the final minute — and Odom added 20 as the Lakers, playing with pride on their star-studded stage, prevented the Celtics from winning a 17th title with a 103-98 win in Game 5 on Sunday night to close to 3-2 in this restored rivalry.

“We didn’t want to see any champagne popping,” Odom said. “It wasn’t easy. I wouldn’t expect it to be.”

No team has overcome a 3-1 deficit in the finals to win a title. The first 28 failed, and now the Lakers, who blew a 24-point lead and lost Game 4 and nearly squandered a 19-point lead in Game 5, have a chance to do something extraordinary.

They’ll have to win on the Celtics’ parquet floor tonight to force a winner-take-all Game 7, where anything is possible.

Especially with Bryant, the game’s best player, on hand.

“In training camp if you told us, ’We’ll give you two games that you have to win to win a world championship,’ we would have taken it in a heartbeat,” Bryant said. “This is a great opportunity for us.”