Kobe Bryant had 30 points and six assists as Los Angeles went on a 16-0 second-quarter run to defeat the Orlando Magic 99-86.
Kobe Bryant had 30 points and six assists as Los Angeles went on a 16-0 second-quarter run to defeat the Orlando Magic 99-86 for their 15th National Basketball
Association title.
Pau Gasol collected 14 points and 15 rebounds and Trevor Ariza scored 15 points for the Lakers, who won the series four games to one.
Bryant, who had to play through the pain of an injured right finger, was chosen Most Valuable Player of the finals for the first time in his
career.
“It means everything,” Bryant said. “We sacrificed so much and put in so much time and effort.”
The Lakers used a 16-0 burst in the second quarter to erase a 9-0 first quarter deficit in front of a crowd of 17,461 at Amway Arena.
They hit eight straight shots in their run, taking advantage of a balanced attack to get five players in double figures against the offensively-challenged Magic.
The Lakers hadn’t won since 2002, the last of three consecutive titles. “This is surreal.” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “They did such a good job in the second half. This is a learned team.”
Not only did they find salvation after last year’s loss to the Boston Celtics, but Sunday’s win allowed Jackson and Bryant to lift some heavy burdens off their shoulders.
Experience and superior execution won out Sunday as Jackson collected his 10th ring to surpass Red Auerbach for the most titles by a NBA head coach and Bryant proved he could win a championship without the help of Shaquille O’Neal.
“I will smoke a cigar tonight in memory of Red,” Jackson said.
Bryant had to play through the pain of an injured right hand, jamming it in the opening quarter while trying to squirm away from the double team of Rashard Lewis and Courtenay Lee.
This was the first postseason match-up between the Lakers and the Magic, who were making just their second finals appearance in 14 years.
Dwight Howard had 11 points and 10 assists and Lewis scored 18 points for the Magic who had knocked off the defending champion Celtics and the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers to get to the finals.
The Lakers shot 43.8 percent, including a whopping 50.0 percent from three point range. The Magic shot just 29.6 percent from the three-point line, missing their first seven attempts before finally making one with just under two minutes left in the first half.
“We didn’t handle the frustration very well,” said Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. “They (Lakers) had an answer for everything.”
Last 10 NBA winners2009: Los Angeles Lakers
2008: Boston Celtics
2007: San Antonio Spurs
2006: Miami Heat
2005: San Antonio Spurs
2004: Detroit Pistons
2003: San Antonio Spurs
2002: Los Angeles Lakers
2001: Los Angeles Lakers
2000: Los Angeles Lakers
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