PORTLAND, Ore. (Ticker) -- The Utah Jazz try to stave off elimination for the second straight game when they face the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 5 of their Western Conference Semifinals series.

With their backs against the wall, the Jazz responded with a vintage performance, battling to an 88-85 victory at the Delta Center in Game 4.

The veteran trio of Karl Malone, John Stockton and Jeff Hornacek led the way as the Jazz successfully avoided their first four-game sweep in franchise history. But Utah knows it must still overcome near insurmountable odds as the series shifts to the Rose Garden.

Utah has lost 13 straight playoff games at Portland, with its last victory coming during the opening round of the 1988 postseason. Additionally, the Blazers are 4-0 at the Rose Garden in the 2000 playoffs.

Despite the loss, Portland is still the younger, deeper and more athletic team and can build off its performance in the first three games of the series, when it defeated Utah by an average of 18.7 points.

The Blazers' versatile lineup continues to present serious matchup problems for the Jazz and their superior depth allows them to be fresher in crunch time.

If the Jazz win tonight, the series moves back to Utah for Game 6. A Blazers' victory will sent them into the Western Conference Finals for the second straight season.