Chicago Sun-Times: Lakers play Rush-in roulette

LAKERS 96, TIMBERWOLVES 90

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Lakers love a little drama -- and the most entertaining show in the NBA is headed back to the Finals.

Shaquille O'Neal scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Kareem Rush came off the bench to make six three-pointers in a 96-90 victory Monday against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals.

Kobe Bryant added 20 points for the Lakers, who overcame Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett, their constant bickering with the referees and O'Neal's 7-for-20 free-throw shooting to win the series 4-2.

Their fourth trip to the championship round in five seasons will begin Sunday. The Detroit Pistons, who lead the Eastern Conference finals 3-2, will visit the Lakers if they finish off the Indiana Pacers tonight.

"[Rush] shot the ball very well," O'Neal said. He's one of the key reasons we won the game. He's one of the best shooters on this team. I'm always on him. I didn't have to get on him much tonight."

The Lakers improved to 9-0 at the Staples Center in the postseason, but Garnett and the Timberwolves spent most of the game on the verge of an improbable upset.

Unbowed by the Lakers' nine championship banners and intimidating home crowd, the Timberwolves played tight defense and made enough free throws to take a lead into the fourth quarter. But Bryant and Rush led a 15-6 run early in the quarter, and Slava Medvedenko added two critical baskets in the final minutes.

"Kareem was obviously the story of the game," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "He played the game of a career, obviously. We know a lot about him as a shooter. I'm sure not too many people know of that ability that he has."

Karl Malone and Gary Payton, who signed with the Lakers last summer for a chance at their first NBA title, joined their teammates in a group hug near the bench before accepting the conference championship trophy.

Latrell Sprewell scored 27 points, and Garnett had 22 points and 17 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who nearly extended the best season in franchise history to a Game 7 in Minneapolis.

Instead, the Timberwolves' first trip to the conference finals ended when they couldn't score enough to overcome the absence of injured point guard Sam Cassell. The Lakers stole Game 1 in Minneapolis and hung on for three home victories.

Bryant, O'Neal and Garnett all got in first-half foul trouble in a tightly officiated game. O'Neal sat for 41/2 minutes in the fourth quarter after picking up his fifth foul, and Malone also got five fouls trying to stay with Garnett, who fouled out in the last minute.

But Rush, who had 11 points in the first five games of the series, made shot after shot from the perimeter. His three-pointer with 3:22 left gave the Lakers a 10-point lead and sent the crowd into pandemonium.

"After I hit my first one, I knew it was going to be a good night," Rush said. "They just kept going in for me. Guys were looking for me. Shots were there, and I just continued to take them. Tonight was one of those nights where you think every one is going to go in."

Though only five players remain from the Lakers' 2000 championship team, the current club has many similarities to the three-time titlists. They're almost invincible when even one of their role players is able to make outside shots, and Rush splendidly filled the role previously played by Glen Rice, Robert Horry and Rick Fox.