LOS ANGELES, May 31 (UPI) -- Kareem Rush made six three-pointers Monday night as the LA Lakers beat Minnesota, 96-90, and advanced to the NBA Finals.
Winning the Western Conference Finals 4-2, the Lakers reached the title round for the fourth time in five years.
Rush, who scored just 11 points in the first five games of the series, made his first six shots from the arc. The 23-year-old guard made three late three-pointers.
The Lakers overcame foul trouble that plagued Shaquiille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant throughout the first three quarters. O'Neal had 25 points and 11 rebounds and Bryant scored 20.
Los Angeles will open the NBA Finals against the winner of the Eastern Conference finals between Indiana and Detroit on Sunday.
Latrell Sprewell scored 27 points and Kevin Garnett had 22 points and 17 rebounds but committed eight of the 19 turnovers for the Timberwolves.
