Lakers need to finish series now

Finish it -- now.

That has to be the approach the Lakers take tonight against the Utah Jazz in Game 5 of the first-round playoff series.

The Lakers have pushed the Jazz to the edge, opening a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, needing a win to advance to the Western Conference semifinals.

If the Lakers lose tonight at Staples Center, they’ll have to return to Salt Lake City for Game 6.

Surely, the Lakers don’t want that. Nor do they want to spend two more fun-filled days in Salt Lake City.

“I love Utah, but I’d rather not see it again . . . “ Kobe Bryant said. “So, we’ve got to be ready.”

Here is how the Lakers can move on:

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Close out the series

Get it done tonight. Don’t give the Jazz any reason to believe it can win the game, that it can win the series. Only eight teams in NBA history have wiped out a 3-1 deficit and come back to win a series. The Lakers were the last team to fumble away that lead, losing to the Phoenix Suns in 2006 in the first round.

Lakers assistant coach Jim Cleamons said the Lakers must close out the first quarter, halftime, third quarter and end-of-game situation.

Cleamons mentioned how the Lakers had a 12-point lead in the second quarter of Game 4 but quickly gave up five straight points to end the half to cut the lead to seven.

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Rebound

It took four games, but the Lakers finally out-rebounded the Jazz, 46-39, on Saturday.

“We went through a box-out drill before the game the other night, just screening guys off the boards,” Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. “We were better, but there’s still a lot of room for improvement for our team.”

The Lakers have to put a body on the Jazz frontcourt players, especially Carlos Boozer, who had 16 rebounds in Game 4 and 22 in Game 3, and Paul Millsap, who had 14 off the bench in Game 3.

The Jazz had 20 offensive rebounds in Game 1.

Utah makes a living on the offensive glass. The Lakers need to stop that feeding frenzy.

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Control the paint

The Jazz had 50 points in the paint in Game 4. Utah scored only 94. That’s way too many points inside. The Lakers need to stop showing such little resistance on defense on the interior.

Utah faces a uphill battle in Game 5.

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Win or go home

It’s that simple for the Jazz. Lose, and it’s time to head to vacationland in Salt Lake City. Win, and the Jazz can extend the series and put the pressure back on the favored Lakers.

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Defense

The only game the Jazz won was when it held the Lakers to under 50% shooting -- that was in Game 3, when Utah limited the Lakers to 36.8% shooting. Otherwise, the Lakers have made 55.6%, 60% and 51.9% of their shots in the victories.

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Don’t fall behind

The Jazz has fallen behind in every game in the series, by 22 in Game 1, 20 in Game 2, 13 in Game 3 and 24 in Game 4.

Only once did the Jazz come back to win, in Game 3.

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broderick.turner@latimes.com