The Los Angeles Lakers faced the same predicament last year: They need two straight wins for a chance to extend their NBA title run.

Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and the rest of the three-time defending champions believe they’re up to it.

“Sacramento, San Antonio, whoever the opponent is, it doesn’t really matter,” Lakers guard Derek Fisher said. “It’s about us, if we do what we’re capable of doing.”

The Spurs took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal Tuesday night with a 96-94 victory at SBC Center. They won despite blowing all but two points of the 25-point lead they held late in the third quarter.

Had it not been for a three-pointer by Robert Horry rattling in-and-out with just over three seconds left, the Lakers would be up 3-2.

Game 6 is tonight at Staples Center. If Los Angeles wins, Game 7 will be Saturday at SBC Center, where the Lakers are winless in five games since the facility opened last fall.

The Lakers trailed the Sacramento Kings 3-2 in the conference finals last spring after losing Game 5 92-91. But they advanced to the NBA Finals by winning 106-102 at Staples Center and 112-106 in overtime at Arco Arena.

The Kings also face an elimination game tonight. Dallas leads that series 3-2 heading into Game 6 at Sacramento.

The Kings miss injured Chris Webber big time. And if they don’t do something to improve their defense and scoring output in a hurry, they’ll be thinking about it all summer.