Lakers Return to NBA Finals

All year long, the Lakers had a singular, simple goal: to return to the NBA Finals, and avenge last year's loss in the championship round.

They achieved the first part of that goal on Friday by closing out the Denver Nuggets in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, 119-92.

In a series where the referees were the topic of discussion over the past two games, the Lakers made sure that this one wouldn't be close enough for the officials -- or the Nuggets -- to have any say at all regarding the outcome of this game.

Lakers 119, Nuggets 92: Recap | Box Score
Steinmetz: Lakers' Skill Makes Toughness Questions Irrelevant

The beginning of Game 6 started off with an effort that was very measured by both teams. Each walked the ball up the floor, and carefully ran their sets, in an extended feeling-out period that lasted almost the entire first quarter.

The Lakers led by five after one, but the Nuggets responded to take the lead on a three-pointer from J.R. Smith, which capped a 7-0 Denver run and infused some energy into a building that had remained a little too quiet through the game's opening minutes.

L.A. regained the lead on the next possession, and never relinquished it, finishing the half on a 23-9 run that was finished off by a three-pointer from Kobe Bryant which gave the Lakers a 13-point halftime lead.

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DENVER - MAY 29: Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots over Chris Andersen #11 of the Denver Nuggets and over teammate Lamar Odom #7 in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Pepsi Center on May 29, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Pau Gasol;Chris Andersen;Lamar Odom

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DENVER - MAY 29: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball in the second half against the Denver Nuggets in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Pepsi Center on May 29, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kobe Bryant

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DENVER - MAY 29: Shannon Brown #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for a shot over Chris Andersen #11 of the Denver Nuggets in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Pepsi Center on May 29, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shannon Brown;Chris Andersen

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DENVER - MAY 29: Nene #31 of the Denver Nuggets goes up for a shot between Luke Walton #4, Lamar Odom #7 and Derek Fisher #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Pepsi Center on May 29, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nene;Luke Walton;Lamar Odom;Derek Fisher

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DENVER - MAY 29: Nene #31 of the Denver Nuggets goes up for a shot over Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Pepsi Center on May 29, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nene;Pau Gasol

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Los Angeles Lakers' Luke Walton draws a foul on Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony as he's picked by Denver's Nene during first half action in Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference finals, Friday, May 29, 2009. The Lakers defeated the Nuggets, 119-92.(Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/MCT)

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Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant blocks a shot by Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony at the end of the first half in Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference finals, Friday, May 29, 2009. The Lakers defeated the Nuggets, 119-92. (Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/MCT)

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Los Angeles Lakers' Trevor Ariza is called for a charge on Denver Nuggets' Nene during first half action in Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference finals, Friday, May 29, 2009. The Lakers defeated the Nuggets, 119-92. (Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/MCT)

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Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant scores over Denver Nuggets' Chris Andersen during first half action in Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference finals, Friday, May 29, 2009. The Lakers defeated the Nuggets, 119-92. (Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/MCT)

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Los Angeles Lakers' Andrew Bynum fouls Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony during first half action in Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference finals, Friday, May 29, 2009. The Lakers defeated the Nuggets, 119-92. (Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/MCT)

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Denver went with its strategy from Game 5, where it double-teamed Bryant whenever he touched the ball. Just like the plan failed to work in Los Angeles, it failed to work in Game 6 -- Bryant repeatedly passed out to find the open man, which, in the first half, happened to be Trevor Ariza. Ariza was wide open on several early possessions, and finished with 13 first-half points.

The Nuggets went away from that in the second half, but by then it was too late -- the Lakers' role players had found their rhythm, and once Bryant started to score, the lead ballooned to 20 in the third quarter, and L.A. found that killer instinct that they had been searching for all postseason long.

Kobe finished with 35 points, six rebounds and 10 assists, and was an efficient 12-of-20 from the field with his shooting. Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom finished with 20 points apiece, and Ariza finished with 17.

The Nuggets' stars -- Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups -- disappeared when their team needed them the most. Anthony had a solid but not dominant line of 25 points on 6-of-17 shooting, while Billups managed just 10 points, nine assists, and five turnovers, in 39 minutes, on 2-of-7 shooting.

In the end, the Nuggets were never able to play with the reckless abandon or the confidence that got them to 2-2 in this series, or that got them the big home win in Game 4. The Lakers got contributions from multiple players as they had for most of the regular season, and will finally get a chance at redemption with a return to the NBA Finals.