Karl Malone and John Stockton know the view from the Delta Center on Monday night will be pretty good.
In fact, they might even be able to see as far as a Western Conference finals matchup with Houston or Seattle, if they can add one more victory in an arena where they are already 42-3 this season.It would mark a fourth trip to the conference title series in six years for the Jazz, who staked a 3-1 second-round lead by beating the Los Angeles Lakers 110-95 in the Forum on Saturday.
Malone had 42 points, including an NBA single-game record 18-of-18 from the foul line, to give Utah a split in Inglewood.
"I'm looking forward to Monday night. I need to channel all my energy into just playing the game, and not get too excited," he said.
Saturday's performance was a dramatic about-face from a 104-84 Game 3 loss Thursday, when Malone had 15 points on just 2-of-20 shooting.
Perhaps Malone's only setback in Game 4 came after the buzzer. As he walked toward the locker room, a Lakers fan dumped beer on his head and ran.
"The most important thing is not to let down," Malone said. "They're down to one game now and they'll be coming after us. We need to be ready to play. We will be ready to play."
Stockton, who had 11 assists and 11 points Saturday, likes Utah's chances for an early end to the conference semifinal. No return trips to LA this season for Malone's fellow perennial All-Star, if he can help it.
"We obviously have a nice advantage," Stockton said. "We need to play our best game on Monday and just continue to improve."
The Lakers know the odds are long for their survival. Utah has a 17-game home winning streak, including 4-0 in the first and second playoff rounds, and is undefeated in four games in Salt Lake with LA this season.
"Since we lost, we're in dire straits," LA coach Del Harris said.
"Bad shape," Lakers guard Nick Van Exel allowed, but added with defiance: "I don't like excuses. I think we're ready right now to win the championship."
For Van Exel to be proved right, LA would need to win three straight over Utah - Monday night's game, another Wednesday in the Forum, and then a finale Saturday in Salt Lake.
And it appears LA will have more than Malone and 20,000 Jazz fans to worry about in Game 5. While Malone used his big game Saturday to atone for Thursday's outing, Bryon Russell scored a career playoff-best 29 points.
The 6-foot-7 swingman called it his best game ever.
"People don't think Utah's (small forward) can knock down jumpers," Russell said. "It feels good."