One Year Later, They’re Excited About Game 5

The Kings are right back where they were last year, with one shot to win a fifth and final game on the road and advance to the second round.

Last year the Kings lost to Utah in overtime at the Delta Center in Game 5. They had a chance to win in regulation, but center Vlade Divac missed a hook shot on their final possession.

The major differences last year were the Kings had a chance to win the series at home in the fourth game and blew it, and they weren’t as confident about their chances heading back to Utah.

Now that they’ve been through it, they’re filled with the belief they can get it done. And they have the advantage of having been through a deciding game together, while this Laker group never has seen how everyone responds in a winner-take-all scenario.

“I think we have to be careful,” forward Chris Webber said. “I don’t think we can say, ‘Hey, we played well against Utah and almost won it.’ This is a different team.

“But I said the other day that if we win Game 4, you never know what could happen. When we put the effort out there, good things can happen.”