|
LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the
defending champion San Antonio Spurs 100-92 Thursday, advancing to
the National Basketball Association finals for the first time in
four years.
Kobe Bryant scored 39 points for
the Lakers who wrapped up the best-of-7 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 half time and we
did that and then turned on the gas in the second half.
“Now the real season starts.”
The Lakers will meet the winner
of the other semifinal 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,” said Lakers coach Phil Jackson. “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],’” said Bryant.
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.
Said Spurs coach Greg Popovich,
“We fought back pretty good. We just faced a better team.”
Before advancing to the NBA’s
biggest stage, Los Angeles had to fend off San Antonio, which still
was 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 the Spurs’ Brent Barry in the head as he put the ball on
the floor while trying to shake free for a potential game-winning
3-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 beat the topseeded Lakers three straight times to
advance—including twice at the Staples Center.
Boston leads the best-of-7 series
3-2 with Game 6 in Detroit on Friday. The Lakers and Celtics have
not met in the finals since 1987.
--AFP
|
