For more on tonight's game, check out our Lakers blog at Silver Screen and Roll and our Suns blog at Bright Side Of The Sun.
Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Kobe Bryant poured in 37 points as the Los Angeles Lakers gained their third straight trip to the NBA Finals with a 111-103 win over the Suns.
The defending NBA champions, who eliminated Phoenix in six games in the Western Conference finals, will have a familiar foe in the title series. For the second time in three years and for a record 12th time in NBA history, the Lakers will battle the Boston Celtics for the championship.
Last year, the Lakers secured their 15th title with a five-game victory over Orlando, but in 2008 Boston topped Los Angeles in six games. The Celtics, gunning for their record 18th title, are coming off a six-game series win over the Magic in the East finals. Game 1 will be Thursday in Los Angeles.
Ron Artest, whose put-back gave the Lakers a dramatic 103-101 win in Game 5 on Thursday, ended with 25 points in the series clincher.
Amare Stoudemire led the way with 27 points for the Suns, who were denied their first NBA Finals appearance since 1993. They've never won the championship. It was also possibly Stoudemire's final game in a Phoenix uniform, as he's due to be a free agent this summer.
