Lakers one game shy of elimination from NBA finals

By Mike Bresnahan, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

The Lakers have already made history. They actually have a chance to do it again.

Somewhere in the same sphere of improbability that goes with blowing a 24-point lead in an NBA Finals loss, the Lakers will try to win the Finals after trailing, three games to one.

It has never been done since the Finals debuted in 1947, which speaks to the magnitude of their task, in case it wasn't already clear.

They managed to practice Saturday, one more step than they could take when they all gloomily assembled Friday, though it remained to be seen how they would look in Game 5 tonight against Boston at Staples Center.

They spoke positively, insisting the shock of Game 4 and the stagnation a day later had dried up and blown away. The final score tonight will be the best judge.

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