30 May,2009 11:58 AM IST | | AFP
The Los Angeles Lakers are headed back to the NBA finals for the second-straight year after rolling over the Denver Nuggets 119-92 yesterday to take their semi-final series four games to two.
Kobe Bryant had 35 points and 11 assists and Pau Gasol scored 20 points for the Lakers who will be making their 30th appearance in the NBA championship series.
"This has been a physical march," Bryant said. "Every series has been tough.
"Now we are back at a place where we didn't finish off last year. Hopefully we will do it this year."
Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points for the Nuggets who also received 24 points from J R Smith and 10 points and nine assists from Chauncey Billups.
As they seek their 15th championship, the Lakers now get time to rest before meeting either Cleveland or Orlando in the finals. Orlando leads the other semi-final three games to two.
If Orlando wins today, Los Angeles will have home court advantage when the finals begin on Thursday.
"This struggle will help us," Gasol said. "Right now we are one more step closer to our goal but we got to win four more games."
The Lakers used a balanced attack for the second straight game as five players figured in double figures in both games five and six.
"We are tough when we use all our weapons," Gasol said. "We don't just focus on Kobe or myself. We have to use all our weapons."
The Lakers shot 57.3 per cent from the field to close out the Nuggets in dominating fashion.
"We saved our best for last," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "We had the momentum from the beginning of the game on.
"There was a lot of precise work tonight. We moved the ball the right way and got the ball in right places where we could operate.
"Defensively we were able to shut them down from running and that is a big part of their game."
Bryant shot 12-of-20 from the field and went nine-of-nine from the free throw line.
The Lakers combined to go nine-of-16 from three-point range and was a perfect 24-of-24 in team free throw shooting.
Once again Denver was assessed the lion's share of penalties as officials slapped them with 22 fouls compared to 19 for the Lakers, who continued their playoff dominance over Denver with this series win.
The Nuggets and Los Angeles have met in the playoffs four times with the Lakers coming out on top each time. Los Angeles took a first round series in 1979, won a semi-final series in 1985 and swept the Nuggets in a opening round last year.
Los Angeles took three of four games from Denver during the regular season this year with the Nuggets lone win coming in Colorado on February 27.
Anthony shot just six-of-17 from the field for Denver who struggled to find their form shooting just 43.8 per cent for the game.
Denver coach George Karl said he's proud of his group and Friday's blowout loss was not characteristic of their season.
"I don't feel good about congratulating the Lakers but they are a great team," Karl said.
"In a strange way I was anxious throughout the series because I saw little cracks in the Lakers game and they cemented them back up and they are the best team in NBA.
"I coached a long time in this league and this has been a special season for me. I couldn't ask anything more from any guy in that locker room.
"Forget about tonight. Tonight wasn't Nugget basketball and I apologise to the fans.
"This team can be really good and that is what we should focus on.
"The disappointment will linger with us. Sometimes it takes 24 hours and sometimes it takes 24 days."
