The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the defending champions the San Antonio Spurs 100-92 on Thursday and advanced to the NBA finals for the first time in four years.
Kobe Bryant scored 39 points for the Lakers, who wrapped up the best-of-seven series in five games.
“The first half was tough for us because they caught us off guard,” Bryant said. “We just wanted to cut the deficit to a manageable level by halftime, and we did that and then turned on the gas in the second half. Now the real season starts.”
PHOTO: AP
The Lakers will meet the winner of the other semi-final between the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons.
It was another comeback victory for the Lakers, who trailed by 17 points in the first half. Los Angeles erased a 20-point, third-quarter deficit in Game 1 to secure a win.
“Never a dull moment with these boys,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “They put us on our heels early in the games, we were able to come back.”
Los Angeles received the Western Conference championship trophy after the game from Laker legend Jerry West.
Bryant spoke briefly with West before Thursday’s game and got some pointed advice.
“We were ready to do the national anthem and he got my attention said: ‘Kick their [expletive],’” Bryant said.
Bryant did his best, scoring 26 of his 39 points in the second half for the Lakers, who reached the championship series for the first time since 2004, when they lost to the Pistons.
“This is dream come true,” Bryant said. “It is such a blessing to be able to share this with a group of guys who are like brothers.”
Tim Duncan had 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for the Spurs, who have won four championships since 1999 but again failed to repeat the feat.
“We played hard, we just weren’t good enough through stretches,” Duncan said.
Spurs coach Greg Popovich said: “We fought back pretty good. We just faced a better team.”
Trailing 44-28 with 3 minutes, 57 seconds remaining in the second, the Lakers finished the half on a 14-4 run en route to a 48-42 deficit entering the third quarter, setting up Bryant’s performance in the final two periods.
“Kobe closed the deal,” Jackson said of Bryant, who had demanded to be traded in the off-season. “I felt I had played him too many minutes so we had to take a timeout [in the fourth]. “It is really a very victorious point in time. For Kobe to come back after a bewildering two weeks in pre-season when things were so tenuous. He had great support from the organization and for him to be able to throw his energy back into this team the way he did. It has to be a special moment for him.”
Before advancing to the NBA’s biggest stage, Los Angeles had to fend off San Antonio, who were still steaming from a controversial home loss in Game 4.
On the game’s final possession, referees failed to call a foul on Lakers guard Derek Fisher, who elbowed Brent Barry in the head as he put the ball on the floor while trying to shake free for a potential game-winning three-pointer. The NBA issued an apology for the missed call on Wednesday.
The league’s remorse most likely did not soothe the Spurs, who were in the unenviable position of having to win three straight games.
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