|
CHINA> Sports
![]() |
|
Related
Bryant leads Lakers past Nuggets, back to finals
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-05-30 13:11 DENVER - Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers are heading back to the NBA finals after dispatching the pesky Denver Nuggets with a 119-92 victory in Game 6 on Friday night. Bryant had 35 points and 10 assists and got plenty of scoring help from Trevor Ariza, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom as the Lakers shot 57.3 percent from the field to avoid having to play a Game 7 in the Western Conference finals back at the Staples Center. They will finally get some much-needed rest after playing every other day for a grueling two weeks.
These Lakers, who are headed to their record 30th NBA finals and are seeking their 15th title, are a more grizzled group - but also more bruised and battered - than the one that fell to Boston in the finals last year. "Now we're in a place where we didn't get the job accomplished last year," Bryant said. "Hopefully we will this time." Instead of cruising through the West this time, the Lakers survived an arduous seven-game semifinal series against Houston and a physical test against Denver.
The Lakers will face either Orlando or Cleveland in the finals. The Magic lead 3-2 and can clinch the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night at home in Game 6 and prevent the Kobe Bryant-LeBron James final that has basketball fans and corporate sponsors atwitter. The finals begin Thursday, at Los Angeles if Orlando wins, and at Cleveland if the Cavaliers prevail. Carmelo Anthony led the Nuggets with 25 points and J.R. Smith added 24, but Denver trailed for all but a few seconds and never mounted a serious charge after halftime, although they kept hitting 3-pointers. This was the Nuggets' eighth consecutive loss in a playoff elimination game. |
海门市| 静乐县| 本溪| 南投市| 麦盖提县| 吴桥县| 工布江达县| 中西区| 东兰县| 辰溪县| 芜湖市| 青河县| 兴宁市| 昆山市| 阆中市| 牡丹江市| 武山县| 威远县| 如东县| 西乡县| 兰西县| 天水市| 汝州市| 贡觉县| 闽侯县| 锦屏县| 耿马| 茶陵县| 阳曲县| 桓台县| 尼木县| 阿克苏市| 平和县| 孝昌县| 兴安县| 酉阳| 陵川县| 新建县| 镇平县| 布拖县| 财经|