SPORTS
As the final horn sounded, Lakers' purple and gold confetti fell from the rafters and Los Angeles players charged the court to celebrate victory over their greatest rivals.
The Los Angles Lakers rallied from a big early deficit to win their second successive NBA championship with a cliff-hanging 83-79 Game Seven victory over the Boston Celtics on Thursday.
The triumph gave the Lakers a 16th championship and a record 11th for coach Phil Jackson as they also became the first team to repeat as NBA champions since winning three in a row from 2000.
As the final horn sounded, Lakers' purple and gold confetti fell from the rafters and Los Angeles players charged the court to celebrate victory over their greatest rivals.
"This one is by far the sweetest because it's against them and because it''s the hardest one by far," Kobe Bryant said after he was presented with the NBA Finals MVP award.
"Tonight I wanted it so bad ... and sometimes you want something so bad it slips away from you," added the Lakers guard, who made just six of 24 shots in Game Seven. "My guys picked me up."
Boston coach Doc Rivers said his players were devastated by the loss.
"There's a lot of crying in that locker room, don't think there is a dry eye," Rivers told reporters. "A lot of people feel awful. I think that''s a good thing, it shows how much we care."
After dropping two of three games in Boston, the Lakers returned to Staples Center facing a series defeat for the first time this post-season.
The resilient Lakers dominated the Celtics in an 89-67 Game Six victory to set up the decisive seventh game.
Hungry Celtics
A hungry Celtics team jumped out to a 23-14 lead by the end of the first quarter to stun a capacity crowd including Hollywood stars such as Jack Nicholson, Dustin Hoffman and Leonardo DiCaprio.
But the visitors could not build on the momentum and were held scoreless for almost five minutes at the start of the second quarter as Los Angeles briefly grabbed the lead.
The Celtics regrouped to control the tempo of the game and reclaim a lead that they would not relinquish until late in the final quarter.
The Lakers, who trailed by as many as 13 points, picked up their game in the closing minutes and seized the lead at 65-64 on a pair of Bryant free throws.
Bryant finished with a game-high 23 points despite his shooting woes, while Ron Artest, playing in his first season with the Lakers, added 20 in a superb all-round performance.
Spanish forward Pau Gasol also chipped in with 19 points for the Lakers, nine of them coming in the fourth quarter.
"I can't say enough about the Spaniard," said Bryant, who also missed all six of his three-point attempts but contributed 15 rebounds and xx assists. "He's a hell of a player."
Trailing by six with 60 seconds remaining, Boston''s Ray Allen drained a three-pointer to cut the Lakers lead in half.
After Bryant sank a pair of free throws to put the Lakers up by five, Rajon Rondo followed with a clutch three to cut the lead to two with 16 seconds remaining.
However, the Lakers held on to deny the Celtics their first championship since beating Los Angeles in six games in 2008.
Delhi-Mumbai expressway to slash travel time to 25 minutes: Key stretch to open on...
'Modi govt is committed to building terror-free India': Union Minister Amit Shah
Chhath Puja 2024: What is the importance of bamboo basket in Chhath Puja?
SC to deliver verdict today on plea against NCLAT order transferring Jet Airways to winning bidder
Is it time for Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma to step down from playing Test cricket?
Chhath Puja 2024: Are banks open or closed today? Check state-wise list here
DNA TV Show: How did Donald Trump win US elections despite his several controversies?
Sunil Mittal's Airtel joins hands with Indian Army, becomes only private company to...
Shah Rukh Khan's Mannat to Amitabh Bachchan's Jalsa: 5 most expensive celebrity homes in India
IPL 2025 auction: 42-year-old England legend registers for first time, his base price is...
Stranger Things season 5 teaser reveals episode titles, release date confirmed as...
Singer Rahul Vaidya buys 3110 sq ft luxury apartment worth Rs 90000000, it is located in...
Nimrat Kaur asks Abhishek Bachchan ‘would you distract Aaradhya’, he praises Aishwarya Rai in reply
JEE Advanced 2025: Candidates now allowed to give 3 attempts, check details inside
Watch: MS Dhoni's video of playing golf with Donald Trump goes viral after US Polls
Viral: Italy's Lake Como's 'fresh air' can being sold for Rs 907, details inside
Ranji Trophy: Jalaj Saxena scripts history, becomes first cricketer to achieve massive feat
Gautam Adani congratulates Donald Trump on winning US elections, says, 'If there is one person...'
Meet Usha Chilukuri, who is set to become first Indian-origin second lady of US, she is wife of...
Delhi NCR: Traffic advisory issued in Ghaziabad ahead of Chhath Puja 2024, check routes to avoid
ICC Test Rankings: Rishabh Pant breaks into top 10; Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma suffer massive loss
NASA's Sunita Williams witnesses 16 sunrises, sunsets daily in space, here’s how
'India will…': Ricky Ponting makes BOLD prediction for Border-Gavaskar Trophy
From DU to Tesla: Meet man who works for Elon Musk, manages his company's...
Essence of Leadership: Insights from Ankur Saini
Who is Thomas Draca? First Italian player to register for IPL 2025 mega auction
IPL 2025 mega auction: Full list of players with Rs 2 crore base price
Meet man who quit Paytm after Rs 2048 crore deal with Deepinder Goyal's Zomato, he is...
Anushka Sharma can't stop laughing seeing Virat Kohli's funny move in unseen viral video - Watch
SA vs IND: Arshdeep Singh aims to surpass Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s all-time T20I record
Donald Trump reclaims US presidency, netizens win hearts with meme-fest
'Everyone will come to know...': LoP Rahul Gandhi's BIG statement on caste census in Nagpur
Thama: Ayushmann Khurrana reveals all about 'bloody love story', says it is....
'History’s greatest comeback': Israel PM Netanyahu congratulates Donald Trump on US Election victory
US Election Results LIVE: Donald Trump's victory speech; WATCH HERE
Arjun Kapoor hits back at haters post Singham Again success: 'To everyone who...'
'Let's work for global peace': PM Modi congratulates 'friend' Donald Trump on winning US election
Swiggy's next BIG step, set to challenge Mukesh Ambani ahead of IPO, collects Rs...
Amid divorce rumours, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai set to reunite for...
J-K Assembly passes resolution seeking restoration of special status of erstwhile state
CAT Admit Card 2024 RELEASED: Step-by-step guide to download from iimcat.ac.in
Kiki Hakansson, the first ever Miss World, passes away at 95
This company surpasses Apple as world's biggest company, it's market cap is Rs...
IPL 2025: Mitchell Starc breaks his silence on not being retained by KKR, says, 'I still have not…'
J-K: Encounter breaks out between security forces, terrorists in Kupwara
‘Our relationship with US…’: EAM S Jaishankar on US Presidential Election 2024 Results