Bryant: Title 'by far the sweetest'

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Bryant: Title 'by far the sweetest'
LOS ANGELES, (UPI) -- Los Angeles superstar Kobe Bryant says his latest title with the Lakers, his fifth, was the sweetest -- and hardest -- of them all.

The Lakers won it Thursday, coming from behind to top the Boston Celtics 83-79.

Los Angeles has won 16 league titles and two in a row.

Bryant had 23 points and was named MVP of the championship series.

"We understood how badly the city wanted it. Bryant said. "This one is by far the sweetest because it was against (Boston) and it was the hardest, by far."

Boston star Ray Allen said the loss was painful.

"This is probably one of the hardest feelings I've felt in my lifetime," Allen said.

Although Bryant was the leading scorer and Sasha Vijacic ensured the victory by dropping in two free throws with 11.7 seconds left, it was Pau Gasol who carried the Lakers during a frantic final quarter and put them in position to win.

Gasol scored from the foul line, he battled for key points under the basket and he grabbed the two most important rebounds of the game.

Boston held a four-point lead going into the fourth quarter of a game marked by physical play and intense defense. Almost every dribble of the basketball was contested from start to finish.

Los Angeles took the lead with a nine-point run that ended with two free throws from Gasol, giving the Lakers a 70-64 cushion with less than 5 minutes remaining.

From that point, Gasol made three free throws, blocked a shot and scored on a layup while fighting off three Boston defenders to put the Lakers in front 76-70 with 1:30 to play.

Los Angeles held only a 79-76 advantage inside the 30-second mark when Bryant tried to clinch it with a 3-pointer that missed. Gasol was there to get the offensive rebound and he got it back to Bryant -- who wound up making two foul shots for a five-point lead.

Rajon Rondo made a 3-pointer for the Celtics before Vujacic hit his two foul shots.

Gasol finished with 19 points and 18 rebounds in helping bring the Lakers their fifth league crown in 11 years.

Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 18 points.
 
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