Lakers claim record-tying 17th NBA title

New York, October 12

Los Angeles Lakers captured a record-tying 17th NBA Championship on Sunday with a 106-93 victory over Miami Heat that sealed the best-of-seven title series 4-2, restoring the storied franchise to the top of the basketball world.

Lakers’ victory tied them with Boston Celtics for most NBA championships and capped an unprecedented season that resumed in July at a spectator-free campus at Disney World in Florida after a four-month Covid-19 shutdown. Finals MVP LeBron James led the way for Lakers, scoring 28 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists while spearheading a defensive masterclass that doused Heat’s offense.

“It means a lot to represent this franchise,” said James, who joined the team in the summer of 2018 after they had missed the playoffs five seasons in a row. “I told (Lakers president) Jeanie (Buss) when I came here that I was going to put this franchise back in the position where it belongs. We just want our respect,” he said. — Reuters