A decade-long wait is over for the Los Angeles Lakers.
The NBA crowned a new champion as the Lakers picked the Miami Heat apart, 106-93, and wrapped up the Finals in 6 games on Sunday, October 11 (Monday, October 12, Manila time).
LeBron James delivered a triple-double of 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists to propel the Lakers to their first championship since 2010 and in the process clinch his fourth NBA crown.
James, who also led the Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers to titles, became only the third man in NBA history to win championships with 3 different teams, joining John Salley and Robert Horry.
The Heat seemed to have found answer for the Lakers after they staved off elimination with an inspired Game 5 win.
But that only delayed the Lakers' coronation of their 17th crown as the Heat ran out of steam, getting buried by as many as 30 points in the first half and 36 points in the entire game.
Anthony Davis chalked up 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 blocks in the clincher to capture his maiden NBA title in his first season with the Lakers.
Rajon Rondo put up 19 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 17 points as they both played a huge role in the 13-point romp, doing most of the damage in the Lakers' huge first half.
The Heat trailed by only 6 points, 22-28, before they fell apart defensively and witnessed the Lakers' lead swell to 64-34 off back-to-back Caldwell-Pope three-pointers.
By the end of the first half, the Lakers already had 4 players in double figures in James, Davis, Rondo, and Caldwell-Pope, while the Heat had none.
The title win marked an emotional return to the NBA summit for the storied Lakers, whose last championship came during the tenure of late franchise great Kobe Bryant.
Bryant died in January and the Lakers vowed to dedicate the season to him and his daughter Giannia, who also died along with 7 others in a horrific helicopter crash in Los Angeles. – Rappler.com