It goes without saying that the Los Angeles Lakers face a pivotal Game 5 Tuesday night at Staples Center against the Hornets in their first round NBA playoff series. They don't want to head back to New Orleans with the Hornets needed only a win to eliminate the Lakers. Kobe Bryant, bum ankle and all, is expected to play Tuesday night, in the 7:30 p.m. PDT game which will be televised by TNT and Fox Sports West. Here are some facts and figures about Game 5, this series, and Lakers' playoff history.

• In Game 5 of a 2-2 best-of-seven series all-time, the Lakers are 25-8, including 19-0 at home
• When winning Game 5 to go up 3-2 in a best-of-seven series, the Lakers are 16-0 in series since the 1969 NBA Finals (which they lost to Bill Russell and Boston)
• The Lakers have played five Games 5 of a 2-2 series at home in the last three seasons, and have won all five games by an average of 16.4 points per contest.

Here is the series schedule:

• Game 1 - Hornets 109, Lakers 100
• Game 2 - Lakers 87, Hornets 78
• Game 3 - Lakers 100, Hornets 86
  
• Game 4 - Hornets 93, Lakers 88
  
• Game 5 - Tuesday, at Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m. (TNT, Prime Ticket)
  
• Game 6 - Thursday, New Orleans, TBD (TNT)
  
• Game 7* - Saturday, at Los Angeles, TBD (TNT)
  

*if necessary

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.