In Game 5, the referees stole the show once again, giving the Lakers a helpful push.
The routine was almost identical to Game 3. As long as Kobe drew a foul, he essentially got exactly what he wanted. Just one minute into the fourth quarter, Poseidon fouled out. After that, the Phoenix Suns' defense completely collapsed. Artest, finding a rare streak of accuracy, drained two three-pointers in the final period to help the Lakers secure a six-point victory. The Lakers survived by the skin of their teeth, and the cheering fans nearly blew the roof off the Staples Center.
