The Los Angeles Lakers held off a furious late fightback by the Utah Jazz to book their place in the Western Conference final with a nail-biting 108-105 victory in Game 6 on Friday.
All-Star guard Kobe Bryant, named the National Basketball Association's Most Valuable Player for the first time earlier this month, led the way with 34 points, eight rebounds and six assists as the Lakers wrapped up the best-of-seven series 4-2.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is double teamed by Utah Jazz's Ronnie Brewer (left) and Paul Millsap as he shoots during Game 6 of their Western Conference semifinal series in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Friday.
Earlier, LeBron James poured in 32 points to help the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Boston Celtics 74-69 at home and force a deciding Game 7 in their Eastern Conference semifinal.
In Salt Lake City, Spaniard Pau Gasol scored 17 points and veteran guard Derek Fisher 16 while three other Lakers also finished in double-figures.
Mehmet Okur and Deron Williams, who top-scored for the Jazz with 21, both missed three-pointers in the final seconds that would have tied the game.
"We played with a lot of heart," Bryant said in a court-side television interview after the Lakers reached the conference finals for the first time in four years.
"I think it shows a lot of maturity on our part to come to a place where they have lost only five times all year to win a big one. It also shows a lot of growth that we were able to execute and especially to withstand their run at the end."
The Lakers made a storming start and led 86-70 going into the fourth quarter. The Jazz trimmed the deficit to seven points before Bryant delivered two magical two-pointers to regain control for the visitors.
However, Utah again clawed its way back and forward Andrei Kirilenko's three-point jumper cut the lead to 103-100 with 25.5 seconds left but Los Angeles held on to win.
Carlos Boozer had 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Jazz while Okur added 16 points and 10 boards.