LOS ANGELES (AFP) — 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-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 manageable level by half time and we did that and then turned on the gas in the second half.”
The Lakers will meet the winner of the other semi-final between the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons.
Boston leads the best-of-seven series 3-2 with game six in Detroit on Friday. The Lakers and Celtics have not met in the finals since 1987.
Bryant scored 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 Detroit 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.”
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 one to secure a win.
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.

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