Lakers get a few days of rest ’til NBA finals

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kobe Bryant stared straight ahead, delivering his answer without emotion. His teammates were out of earshot, though Bryant undoubtedly told them the same thing.

Asked what it would take to close out Denver in six games, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar replied, “Be cold-blooded, go out there and execute. We have to stay focused and poised and try to cut them up.”

Led by Bryant’s merciless efficiency, the Lakers sliced and diced the Nuggets to advance to the NBA finals for the second consecutive year. Los Angeles turned what had been a back-and-forth series into a rout Friday night, winning 119-92 on the road.

“Now we’re in a place where we didn’t get the job accomplished last year,” Bryant said. “Hopefully we will this time.”

Battered, bruised and just plain exhausted, the Lakers took Saturday off. They’ll get a few days’ rest before the finals begin Thursday in L.A. against Orlando.

“We’re back to where we wanted to get to and we’re probably playing at the highest level that we have all year,” Luke Walton said.

It hasn’t been easy.

Critics have questioned the Lakers’ effort throughout the playoffs, especially when they were forced to a seventh game by an undermanned Houston team in the conference semifinals.

They have seemingly turned it on and off at times, getting thumped 120-101 in Game 4 at Denver before coming home and dominating the Nuggets in the fourth quarter of Game 5, then dissecting them with precision in the elimination game.

“We didn’t allow the early energy and emotion of the home team and their crowd to force us to play from behind,” Derek Fisher said. “That was a real key for us, mentally as well. We had a very solid start and we were able to sustain it for four quarters.”

The Lakers overwhelmed the Nuggets with a 21-7 run in the second quarter, with Bryant scoring 11, to lead 53-40 at halftime. Denver failed to make a serious run in the second half.

“That was definitely killer instinct. That was definitely as focused of a game as we’ve played all year,” said Walton, who had 10 points. “We’ve heard in the media people questioning us. We’ve never questioned our own ability. It’s nice to put a full 48 [minutes] together in one of the biggest games of our year.”