In Obama's Eyes, Jordan Tops Kobe

Lakers gain 2-0 lead in finals

(NEWSER) - The Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic 101-96 in Los Angeles yesterday, taking a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals. Orlando flubbed a last-second shot at a fourth-quarter win, then let the Lakers dominate overtime with a 7-0 run, the Los Angeles Times reports. Kobe Bryant nailed just 29 points, 11 fewer than in Game 1. The Lakers' Pau Gasol contributed 24 points, and Lamar Odom 19. More»

(NEWSER) - Kobe Bryant has logged a lot of miles on his 30-year-old legs, which might just add a dollop of extra pressure as the NBA finals start tonight, writes Mike Bresnahan in the Los Angeles Times. It's finally legit to ask, how many more chances will he get? Since turning pro at age 17, Bryant has played 1,118 games—that's 340 more than Michael Jordan at the same age. “The window for Bryant's career is only a handful of years from sliding shut,” says Bresnahan. More»

Phoenix puts clamps on Chicago while King James outscores Kobe

(NEWSER) - Orlando won a clash of division leaders today, 96-93 over Boston, on a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Hedo Turkoglu. The Magic managed to blow a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter but went back ahead on two buckets by Rashard Lewis. With injured Celtic Kevin Garnett sitting out, Dwight Howard was strong inside with 18 points, 16 rebounds. Elsewhere in hoops: More»

Celtics beaten 83-79 as Lakers claim 16th title

(AP) - The Los Angeles Lakers have won their 16th NBA championship, dramatically rallying from a fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Boston Celtics 83-79 in Game 7 of the NBA finals. Kobe Bryant scored 23 points despite 6-of-24 shooting while winning his fifth title with the Lakers, who repeated as NBA champions for the first time since winning three straight from 2000-02. More»

Cops vow to jail miscreants as coliseum fills

(NEWSER) - An estimated 150,000 clogged streets in downtown Los Angeles today as the NBA-champion Lakers took a victory lap around downtown, the Times reports. Some 80,000 more jammed the Coliseum for a rally at parade’s end. Police, hoping to avoid the looting and chaos that followed Sunday’s clinching victory over the Orlando Magic, turned out in force. More»