Lakers advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in a decade

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 26: Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets defends against Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the third quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at Ad

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LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Lakers have advanced to the NBA Finals with a 117-107 victory over the Denver Nuggets tonight to win the Western Conference Finals, four games to one.

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Saturday's win means that the Lakers are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010 – the last time the franchise won a championship.

During Saturday's game LeBron James scored 16 of his game-high 38 points in the fourth quarter and had 16 rebounds and 10 assists, also both game highs, to assure himself of his ninth NBA Finals appearance in 10 seasons. Anthony Davis added 27 points.

Davis' 3-point basket with one second left in the third quarter broke the game's seventh and final tie and gave the Lakers an 87-84 lead entering the fourth quarter.

The Lakers increased the lead to 102-92 with 6:13 to play, scoring seven consecutive points on Davis' two free throws, a 10-foot fadeaway shot by
James and Davis' 3-point basket.

Nikola Jokic concluded a 7-1 Denver run with a 3-point play, cutting the deficit to 103-99 with 4:35 remaining.

James scored the final nine points in the ensuing 12-4 run that put the Lakers up 115-103 with 1:57 to play. They led by at least eight the rest of the game.

Jerami Grant and Jokic each led the Nuggets with 20 while Jamal Murray
added 19.

This will be the Lakers' 32nd appearance in the NBA Finals, increasing their own record. The Boston Celtics are second, with 21.

The 10 seasons between NBA Finals appearances are the most in the team's history. The previous high was nine between the loss to the Chicago Bulls in the 1991 Finals and victory over the Indiana Pacers in the 2000 Finals.

If the Miami Heat defeat Boston Sunday to win the Eastern Conference finals, the NBA Finals will begin Wednesday, a league spokesman told City News
Service. If the Celtics force a seventh game, the Finals will begin Friday, the
spokesman said.

The entire NBA postseason is being played at the ESPN Wide World of
Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida without spectators due to the
coronavirus pandemic.

The best-of-seven playoff was contested between the Western Conference champion Lakers and the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics.

Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles as he holds two NBA Finals Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy's as he poses for a photograph with teammates Pau Gasol #16 and Derek Fisher #2 during Media Day at the Toyota Center on September 25, 2010 (Getty Images)

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The Lakers defeated the Celtics, four games to three, to win the franchise's 16th NBA championship. Late Lakers legend Kobe Bryant won his second straight NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award that year.