Los Angeles, CA (Best E Casino) - Kobe Bryant is one step closer to a career- defining NBA championship, as the Los Angeles star guard and this season's MVP poured in 39 points and hit many key pull-up jumpers down the stretch, propelling the Lakers to the NBA Finals with a 100-92 victory over defending champion San Antonio in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals. The Lakers are back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2004, overcoming a 17-point deficit early in the second quarter and overwhelming the fatigued Spurs with an onslaught of athleticism and sharp shooting down the stretch. Los Angeles will face either Boston or Detroit in the NBA Finals starting next Thursday. Bryant, who will appear in his first NBA Finals without former teammate Shaquille O'Neal, made 16-of-30 from the field. Lamar Odom added 13 points and eight rebounds and Pau Gasol was equally as large inside with 12 points and 19 rebounds. San Antonio still hasn't come back to win a playoff series it trailed 3-1, and for the second time in this series blew a double-digit lead in LA. The Lakers rallied from down 20 in the third quarter to win Game 1, 89-85. Tony Parker led the Spurs with 23 points, Tim Duncan notched a playoff triple- double with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists and Michael Finley scored 13 points. Manu Ginobili was again quiet, much like Game 5, with only nine points on 3-of-9 shooting. HASH(0xa72955c)