Lakers snag 15th NBA championship

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - The Los Angeles Lakers have won the 15th NBA championship in their storied history with a relatively easy 99-86 victory that eliminated the Orlando Magic in five games.
   
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 30 points, six rebounds, five assists and four blocks. Bryant keyed a 16-0 Lakers run in the second quarter that propelled L.A. into a 12-point lead. The Lakers outscored Orlando 30-18 in the decisive second quarter and the defense prevented the Magic from mounting a serious late run.
   
Bryant won the MVP award as part of his fourth NBA championship team, and first in seven years. This is Bryant’s first title without Shaquille O’Neal, the former Lakers center.

Bryant averaged over 32 points a game in the five-game NBA Finals.
   
Lakers coach Phil Jackson became the all-time coaching leader with his 10th championship in 12 trips to the finals. The 10 titles break the record held by legendary Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach, who coached nine of the Celtics’ 17 titles.
   
Jackson called the accomplishment “surreal,“ saying he would smoke a victory cigar in honor of the late Celtics coach.