NBA PLAYOFFS Rush spurs Lakers into finals, 96-90

He had 18 points on six 3-pointers as the Lakers won the Western series, 4-2.
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kareem Rush just kept firing that smooth left-handed jumper from 3-point range, and it kept going in.
When the biggest game of his life to date was over, with Rush having played a defining role in a playoff game for the first time, he spoke like a grizzled veteran who knew the feeling.
"I'm not a guy who gets overly excited," Rush said. "It's great to be here, but we've got four more games to win, and then I can celebrate."
After shooting 4-of-16 for 11 points in the first five games of the Western Conference finals, Rush scored a career playoff-high 18 on six 3-pointers in Game 6, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 96-90 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night.
By winning the conference finals 4 games to 2, the Lakers earned their fourth NBA Finals berth in five years. The exception was last year, when Rush was a seldom-used rookie and they lost to eventual champion San Antonio in the second round.
Now, for the most part, Rush is a seldom-used two-year veteran.
Rush had great game
"Kareem was obviously the story of the night," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "He played a game of a career."
Rush averaged 2.9 points and 13.4 minutes in the Lakers' previous 16 playoff games. He played 23 minutes Monday night, including the entire fourth quarter.
"I just have to stay ready," he said. "I know I didn't get a lot of playing time in this series. Guys have been playing well. They went small, and the coach threw me in. And after I made my first shot, I knew it was going to be a good night. It just kept going in for me."
Shaquille O'Neal had 25 points and 11 rebounds, and Kobe Bryant added 20 points to lead the Lakers, who will face Detroit or Indiana in the NBA Finals starting Sunday.
The best-of-7 series will open in Los Angeles if Detroit wins the Eastern Conference finals and in Indiana if the Pacers win.
The Pistons lead 3-2 entering Game 6 tonight.
"This is the reason I came over here," said Karl Malone, who had 10 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists and had the task of guarding league MVP Kevin Garnett.
Sprewell, Garnett sparkle
Latrell Sprewell led the Timberwolves with 27 points. Garnett had 22 points and 17 rebounds before fouling out with 19.4 seconds remaining and the outcome decided.
"I got a taste of the Western Conference finals," Garnett said, "but it's like Spree said in the locker room, 'It doesn't mean anything if you don't win it all.' ... We've just got to use this as experience and add a couple of pieces and go from there."
The Timberwolves hadn't advanced past the first round of the playoffs before this year. In the end, they couldn't overcome the loss of All-Star point guard Sam Cassell and his backup, Troy Hudson.
Without a solid ballhandler, they committed 19 turnovers in Game 6 -- eight by Garnett -- to 10 for the Lakers.