LOS ANGELES, June 19 -- Carried by league MVP Shaquille O'Neal, with ample assists from his friends, the Los Angeles Lakers became a championship team again Monday night, overcoming a 12-point first-half deficit to beat the Indiana Pacers, 116-111, to win the NBA Finals, four games to two.
A standing-room only crowd of 18,997 at Staples Center saw O'Neal score a game-high 41 points and grab 12 rebounds to lead the Lakers to their 12th NBA title and first since 1988. He was a unanimous choice for Finals Most Valuable Player, capping a phenomenal season in which he also was named MVP of the annual All-Star Game in February.
"He was great for us all year long," said guard Kobe Bryant, who added 26 points and 10 boards, including two sets of two free throws in the final 13 seconds to help the Lakers maintain what proved to be an insurmountable five-point lead. "(Coach) Phil Jackson put in a system that helped us play with him and around him. Plus, he was healthy this year. He played last year with a hole in his stomach."
The 28-year-old O'Neal averaged 38.0 points per game in the six-game series, the fourth highest in Finals history. In the end, the stubborn Pacers simply didn't have enough players to prevent the massive 7-1, 330-pounder from enforcing his will at critical times in the game or series.
"I've waited a long time for this - three years in college and eight years in the pros," said O'Neal, who told the raucous crowd after accepting the MVP Trophy that Jackson was the real coach of the year. "I'm happy for him. I'm happy for my teammates. I'm happy for this city."
Glen Rice added 16 points for Los Angeles, while for the Pacers, Jalen Rose scored a team-high 29 points, Reggie Miller added 25 and Dale Davis had 20.
"It was like a heavyweight fight out there tonight," said Miller. "We won the first three rounds, but they won the one that counted. I've always watched the Finals in years past and the teams that usually win it, they make the plays and make things happen. We were a couple bounces away here and there from making those plays where we would have been in this position. We didn't make the plays when we had to. I don't know if that was because it was our first time here or not."
Another important ingredient for the Lakers, who played catch-up for most of the night is the fact that they did not commit a turnover in the second half, and because they didn't beat themselves, they were able to stay close until they could build enough momentum to get over the hump.
O'Neal made a layup and Rick Fox hit a three-pointer that put the Lakers in front, 94-90. The Pacers would never lead again, although they did tie it at 103 on a three-pointer by Rose with 5:27 left.
Indiana led, 26-24 after the first quarter, thanks to a near-halfcourt heave for a three-pointer by Mark Jackson at the buzzer, and increased the advantage to 47-35 midway through the period. However, the Lakers, with Bryant hitting a closing three-pointer, ended the half on an 18-9 run to cut their deficit to 56-53 at the break.
Indiana also led after the third period, 84-79, but was outscored 37-27, in the decisive final stanza.
For Pacers Coach Larry Bird, it was a tough way to end his on-court career.
Before Monday night's defeat, Bird, as a Hall of Fame player with the Boston Celtics, lost in the Finals to the Lakers two out of three times.
"Shaquille O'Neal was very dominant," admitted Bird, who resorted to intentional fouls during the series after saying he would not. "We had problems with him. We had Dale Davis on him most of the time, and a matchup with Rik SmitsHe was just too much for us."
And Bird again made it clear that he is done as a head coach.
"It's been a great experience, as good as any professional experience you can have," Bird said. "(But) I'm not cut out to be a coach."
As the horn sounded to end the game, O'Neal took a leaping bear hug from Bryant. He quickly accepted his new and latest nickname --"The Big Champion."
"It was a close game, a well-played game," O'Neal said. "But the last two minutes, all the balls bounced our way, the shots went our way. I've been in the league for eight years and this is what I wanted to come to the NBA for. Growing up, I used to see Larry and Magic celebrate, Mike (too)," in reference to Michael Jordan, who led Jackson's Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles in the 1990s.
"What a way to start a millennium," Jackson said.
"I can't wait to win it again next year," said Bryant.
