Lakers reach West final, Celtics-Cavs go to Game 7

Enlarge Photo Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is called for an offensive foul as he runs...

Sat, May 17 11:59 AM

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Los Angeles Lakers held off a furious late fightback by the Utah Jazz to book their place in the Western Conference final with a nail-biting 108-105 victory in Game Six on Friday.

All-Star guard Kobe Bryant, named the NBA's Most Valuable Player for the first time earlier this month, led the way with 34 points, eight rebounds and six assists as the Lakers wrapped up the best-of-seven series 4-2.

Earlier on Friday, LeBron James poured in 32 points to help the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Boston Celtics 74-69 and force a deciding Game Seven in their Eastern Conference semi-final.

In Salt Lake City, Spaniard Pau Gasol scored 17 points and veteran guard Derek Fisher 16 while three other Lakers players also finished in double-figures.

Mehmet Okur and Deron Williams, who top-scored for the Jazz with 21, both missed three-pointers in the final seconds that would have tied the game.

"We played with a lot of heart," Bryant said in a court-side television interview after the Lakers reached the conference finals for the first time in four years.

"I think it shows a lot of maturity on our part to come to a place where they have lost only five times all year to win a big one. It also shows a lot of growth that we were able to execute and especially to withstand their run at the end."

The Lakers made a storming start and led 86-70 going into the fourth quarter. The Jazz trimmed the deficit to seven points before Bryant delivered two magical two-pointers to regain control for the visitors.

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However, Utah again clawed their way back and forward Andrei Kirilenko's three-point jumper cut the lead to 103-100 with 25.5 seconds left but Los Angeles held on to win.

The Lakers will take on either the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs or the New Orleans Hornets in the conference final. The Spurs face the Hornets in the series decider in New Orleans on Monday.

In Cleveland, James also registered 12 rebounds and six assists as the Cavs delivered an impressive performance on home court to level the best-of-seven series at 3-3.

Kevin Garnett was top scorer for Boston with 25 points and eight rebounds while Paul Pierce contributed 16 points.

The Cavaliers led 59-50 going into the fourth quarter but had to weather a late rally by the conference's top-seeded Celtics.

Cleveland's victory sets up a series decider in Boston on Sunday. The home team has won every game in the series.

"We feel good but it's just one game," James said. "We had a game tonight where we could have gone down and it would have been over.

"It was a long game and we're going to let our hair down and then go into Boston and try to steal this one."

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