Lakers win NBA championship June 18, 2010 - 2:18PM

Kobe Bryant scored 23 points and Pau Gasol had 19 points and 18 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers rallied to beat the Boston Celtics 83-79 for their 16th NBA championship.

Forward Ron Artest finished with 20 points and five steals for the Lakers who battled from behind on Thursday to beat the most decorated franchise in NBA history and capture their second-straight championship title.

Bryant and Artest helped spark the fourth quarter rally as the Lakers fought back from a 13-point deficit in the third to win game seven and take the series four games to three.

It was a stunning turnaround for the Lakers in front of a boisterous crowd of 18,997 at Staples Center arena.

Bryant struggled in the first half, scoring just eight points as the Celtics led by six points, 40-34, at the half and 57-53 heading into the fourth.

But the Lakers hung around and Bryant caught fire in the fourth quarter sparking the offence and dominating the rebounds under his own basket.

The win was sweet redemption for the Lakers who still had a bitter after taste following their humiliating 2008 finals loss to the Celtics.

AFP