Series Index:

Game 1: Lakers 89, Spurs 85 at Los Angeles		Game recap & pictures
Game 2: Lakers 101, Spurs 71 at Los Angeles		Game recap & pictures
Game 3: Spurs103, Lakers 84 at San Antonio		Game recap & pictures
Game 4: Lakers 93, Spurs 91 at San Antonio		Game recap & pictures
Game 5: Lakers 100, Spurs 92 at Los Angeles		Game recap & pictures

Picture Gallery (LADN)

May 29, 2008 - STAPLES CENTER - LOS ANGELES. The Lakers rallied from an early 17-point deficit to eliminate the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs with a 100-92 victory.

Powered by Kobe Bryant, who scored 17 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter L.A. won the Western Conference Finals 4-1 and arrived to the NBA Finals for the 29th time to face the winner of the Celtics-Pistons series. The Lakers have already played 10 finals against Boston and 3 against Detroit.

Like in Game 1, things didn't start well for the Lakers who made only 7 of 24 shots (29.2%) in the first quarter to trail 28-15. In a span of 7 1/2 minutes that started with 3:30 left in that quarter the Lakers didn't make a field goal while the the Spurs with 3-pointers from Finley, Ginobili and Barry outscored them 15-1 for a 33-16 lead but Jordan Farmar made the game next 3 baskets to stop the bleeding and with an 11-2 run to finish the second quarter, San Antonio's lead was reduced to 6, 48-42.

The Spurs led by as many as 10 points early in the third, but the Lakers started playing intense defense and with 9 points from Kobe in a 19-8 run they got the first lead since the opening minutes, 61-60 and finished the quarter leading 64-63.

With 10 minutes to go In the final period, 2 free throws by Duncan, who had a triple-double with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, sent the Spurs ahead for the last time 68-67 but Luke Walton answered with a 3-pointer and the Lakers will never trail again, sustained basically by Kobe who made shot after shot in a tremendous performance. Jump-shots over Tim Duncan or a lay-up after leving all the Spurs behind, there was no way to stop him at the end. Almost a year after asking to be traded, he scored 10 points in the final 3:32 to move the Lakers one step closer to an NBA title.

Pau Gasol had a solid contribution with 12 points, a career playoff-high 19 rebounds (9 of them offensive), 5 assists and 4 blocked shots, Lamar Odom added 13 points, 8 rebounds and a lot of energy, and backup guards Sasha Vujacic and Jordan Farmar added 9 and 8 points respectively, and as usual did good job in crucial moments of the game.

Tony Parker scored 23 points for the Spurs. Michael Finley scored 13 points, Barry and Kurt Thomas added 11 each. Manu Ginobili shot 3-for-9 for 9 points and despite a big game 3, his physical problems and his poor overall performace have been one of the keys of the serires.

Bryant attempted only 11 free throws in this series after attempting 96 against Utah.

Game 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals will be played in either Boston or Detroit. Both teams had a better record than the Lakers in the regular season. Game 1 is scheduled for next Thursday. Games 3, 4 and 5 will be played at Los Angeles.

The Quotes

Phil Jackson (LAL Coach): "As I told the players, there's nothing like losing the Finals for a negative feeling after you've played as well as you've played, not to finish the job up.... As much as I appreciate the league trying to emphasize the Western Conference trophy, that doesn't mean too much when that big prize is still out there. We look at both those opponents (Boston and Detroit) with a great deal of respect and know that we have a great, great hill to climb to be able to finish in the finals and win."

Kobe Bryant (Lakers): "I think it is a tremendous accomplishment, I think the West is extremely tough. We’re all extremely excited and proud about it. Now, it’s time to go on and see if we can’t finish it off "... "This is the Lakers, they're used to winning Western Conference championships. I don't think we will go out on the street and see a riot or anything like that. People will be celebrating and be happy about it, but we play for one thing and one thing only, and that's championships."

Gregg Popovich (Spurs Coach): "I thought we did a fine job, we just didn't muster the offense, for a variety of reasons. The fact that we didn't come through offensively is a disappointment, but part of that is a credit to the Lakers. (We) just played a team that was better. That’s why the Lakers won. The better team won. You get a seven-game series, you win four games, you’re the best team."

Highlights