NBA: LA Lakers 100, San Antonio 92

LOS ANGELES, May 29 (UPI) -- Kobe Bryant rallied Los Angeles with 26 second-half points Thursday and the Lakers reached the NBA Finals with a 100-92 win over San Antonio.

The Lakers claimed the Western Conference title by eliminating the defending-champion Spurs in five games and will await the winner of the Boston-Detroit series. Boston owns a 3-2 lead in the East and will try to finish off the Pistons Friday.

For the second time in the series, the Spurs took a big lead on the Lakers' home court, only to have Bryant ignite a comeback. San Antonio blew a 20-point, third-quarter advantage in Game 1 and led by 17 in the second period Thursday.

The Lakers closed within six at halftime and went in front for good at 70-68 when Luke Walton hit a three-pointer with 9:42 remaining in the fourth period.

San Antonio was still within two with 4:35 to play, but the Lakers pulled away from there while the Spurs went cold.

Bryant scored 39 points, three times more than any of his teammates. The Spurs were led by Parker with 23 and Tim Duncan with 19.