Highlights - Lakers win NBA title (UK users only) The Los Angeles Lakers captured their 15th championship and first since 2002 by beating the Orlando Magic 99-86 in Game Five of the NBA Finals on Sunday. The win gave the Lakers an unassailable 4-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Coach Phil Jackson claimed a record 10th title in the process, with Kobe Bryant securing his fourth title. The 30-year-old guard, who led the Lakers with 30 points in Orlando, was also named the Most Valuable Player, the first time he has won the award. The Lakers took control of Game Five in the second quarter, scoring 16 straight points to turn a four-point deficit into a 52-40 lead with three minutes left in the first half. NBA highlights - Plays of the day (UK users only) Los Angeles saw their 10-point halftime lead sliced to 58-53, but Lamar Odom hit two three-pointers during a 13-2 run to give the Lakers a 71-55 advantage with just over three minutes left in the third quarter. Rashard Lewis had 18 points to lead the Magic, while Hedo Turkoglu, Rafer Alston and Courtney Lee each added 12. After the final horn, Bryant leaped into the air and was quickly engulfed by his team-mates, who bounced around the floor of Amway Arena. Bryant then gave long a hug and shared a few words with Jackson before sweeping up his daughters, both wearing gold Lakers dresses, into his arms.  | For this moment to be here and to reflect back on the season and everything that you've been through, it's top of the list, man |
The championship was Bryant's first since the end of his partnership with former team-mate Shaquille O'Neal, who now plies his trade for the Phoenix Suns. Many critics had questioned whether or not Bryant and the Lakers would be able to win an NBA crown again without the duo playing together. "It was like Chinese water torture," Bryant said. "I would cringe every time I heard those comments. "That's the biggest thing. I don't have to hear that stuff anymore. It finally felt like a big old monkey was off my back. "It felt so good to be able to have this moment. For this moment to be here and to reflect back on the season and everything that you've been through, it's top of the list, man." The win was far from an individual achievement, as five other Lakers players scored in double figures. | 606: DEBATE |
Odom and Pau Gasol had double-doubles of 17 points and 10 rebounds and 14 points and 15 boards respectively, while Trevor Ariza added 15 points and Derek Fisher had 13. "I think as team-mates we understand what kind of player he is, what he brings to the table, and we try to complement each other," said Gasol. "I think what we've been doing well this year is understanding what our roles were, what our abilities are out there as individuals and make it work as a team. "It really worked out well. I think we all understood how to play this game together and to take us to this championship." Jackson's record 10th NBA title surpassed the achievements of legendary Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach, who won nine in a 10-year period, while the Celtics still hold the most titles as a team at 17.  Jackson eclipses Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach, who won nine titles |
Jackson had won six with the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls and this was his fourth title at the helm of the Lakers. "Having won 10 championships is a remarkable accomplishment, there's no doubt about it," Jackson said. Orlando counterpart Stan Van Gundy added: "You look at the guy's record, it's undeniable." Despite defeat reaching the finals represented a great achievement for the Magic, who played in the series for only the second time in their history and the first since 1995. That proved little consolation to Dwight Howard, who said: "The only thing you can do is look back on the season, look back on what we did as a team, personally look at what I did, just try to come back next year with the same fire and try to accomplish our goal."
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