LOS ANGELES — Their failure to close out the NBA Finals in five games was no surprise to anyone familiar with the Celtics’ history.

Only three of their 16 championships were won in five games. They are now 3-4 in Game Fives when they’ve had a chance to win the NBA championship with a victory.

The good news: The Celts have never lost a series in which they held a 3-1 lead.

This series, ironically, bears a striking resemblance to the last Celtics-Lakers series, in 1987, only in reverse. In that series, L.A. had the home-court edge and won the first two games, as Boston did this year. When the series moved to the other venue, the home team won Game Three in both years. And then, in Game Four, the visiting team made a late rally and won the game in exciting fashion . . . the Lakers in ’87 on Magic Johnson’s “baby skyhook,” the Celtics in ’08 with the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history.

In 1987, the Celtics won Game Five to close within 3-2 . . . just as the Lakers did last night. But Los Angeles easily won Game Six at home in 1987 to win the championship.

We’ll see if the Celtics follow suit tomorrow.

Brown revitalizes career

The rise of P.J. Brown in the Celtics’ plans is one of the stranger stories of the year for this team.

Brown was essentially retired for this season but by his own choice. He rejected multiple offers to return for a 15th NBA season last summer. But when the Celtics kept pestering the 6-foot-11 veteran, he jumped and signed as a free agent on Feb. 27. He’s averaged more minutes (13.0 to 11.6) in the playoffs than in the regular season and last night was slated for even more time with Kendrick Perkins out with a shoulder injury.

He wound up playing nearly 25 minutes, with four points and three rebounds.

“There’s no limit. There’s a visual limit,” coach Doc Rivers said when asked how long Brown could go against the Lakers. “You just look at him sometimes, and then you know you’ve got to get him off the floor. But there’s days when P.J. has been amazing. We had one playoff game I think he played 13 or 15 straight minutes. So you just watch. You just watch him.”

Minutes pile up on floor

The Celtics played their 25th game of these playoffs last night in Game Five, equaling the most by any team in one postseason.

The Knicks in 1994 and Pistons in 2005 also played 25 games, both ending with Game Seven losses in the NBA Finals. New York fell to Houston, and Detroit was knocked off by San Antonio.

The Celtics were forced to seven games in the first two rounds before getting by Atlanta and Cleveland. They then beat the Pistons in six games in the Eastern Conference finals, but were well prepared to handle the fatigue

“It’s the reason why you work out and you lift and you keep your body in great shape, not just good shape,” Kevin Garnett said. “It’s the reason why the strength coaches are at your neck every day about getting cardio and lifting weights and proper hydration and nutrition. I mean your body goes through a lot. It’s, I can’t even explain it, but you go through a lot, and half the time it’s more mental than physical.”

Keeping track of Garnett

One adjustment Rivers hoped to stay away from in finding answers to fill the gap in Game Five for Perkins’ absence was extending Garnett’s minutes. Garnett has averaged nearly 40 minutes in the Finals and Rivers thinks that’s a cap on his big man’s time.

“Well, he can only in my mind play a certain amount of minutes no matter what the situation is and be effective, so his minutes will not change,” said Rivers. “The only thing that this really changes is with Perk on the floor, it allows you to do certain things with Kevin as far as being a roamer, and it basically takes him out of that role. So that’s a tough blow. But other than that, we’ve had injuries all year at certain times, and the other guys have pitched in. So we’re fine.”

Garnett, who got in early foul trouble, played only 33 minutes and 6 seconds.

Nicholson acts up

On U.S. Open Sunday, Rivers figured to hear some talk about golf during Game Five of the NBA Finals.

But it would have nothing to do with Tiger Woods. It would involve a Jack — that’s Nicholson, not Nicklaus.

A seat near the end of the visitor’s bench at Staples Center means a spot near Nicholson, and Rivers was asked what they talk about.

“Usually he tells me his golf score from that day, and I always question the number that he tells me,” Rivers said. “Other than that, that’s about all we talk about.”

From his usual courtside seat, Nicholson often looks like he’s yapping long after just a brief comment like that, but Rivers said he is not involved in any other conversations.

“Well, that’s the beginning of games,” Rivers said. “Other than that, he’s jawing, but it’s not to me. He’s just yelling out on the floor.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

kmcnamar@projo.com