Journey’s End: Kobe Bryant, Lakers win 15th NBA title with 99-86 win over Magic in Game 5

ORLANDO, Fla. — Kobe Bryant jumped and punched the air. He did it again, seven years of pent up frustration freed in a fit of joy.

Purple Reign: Kobe Bryant leads Lakers to 15th NBA title with 99-86 win over Magic in Game 5

ORLANDO, Fla. — Kobe Bryant pulled Phil Jackson close, embracing his coach and looking him straight in the eyes. After all they’d been through, this was their moment, their championship, their time. This was the one to top all the others.

Purple Reign: Kobe Bryant, Lakers capture 15th NBA title with 99-86 win over Magic in Game 5

ORLANDO, Fla. — Kobe Bryant pulled Phil Jackson close, embracing his coach and looking him straight in the eyes. After all they’d been through, this was their moment, their championship, their time. This was the one to top all the others.

Lakers roll to 15th title, beat Magic 99-86 in Game 5 behind Bryant

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Los Angeles Lakers have won their 15th championship, beating the Orlando Magic 99-86 in Game 5 of the NBA finals.

Lakers use 16-0 run to open 56-46 lead over Magic at halftime of NBA Finals Game 5

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Los Angeles Lakers were one half from their 15th championship, running off 16 straight points in a dominant second quarter to open a 56-46 lead over the Orlando Magic on Sunday night in Game 5 of the NBA finals.

Pinch hitter Willy Aybar hits tiebreaking RBI double in eighth and Tampa Bay beats Washington

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Pinch hitter Willy Aybar got a lucky bounce, doubling off the third base bag in the eighth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays completed a sweep of the lowly Washington Nationals with a 5-4 victory on Sunday.

With O’Neal the link between both teams, Lakers, Magic play NBA finals in Shaq’s shadow

ORLANDO, Fla. — Shaquille O’Neal last wore an Orlando Magic uniform in 1996. He suited up for the final time with the Los Angeles Lakers five years ago.

Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson fined $25,000 for criticizing officials during Game 4

ORLANDO, Fla. — The NBA has fined Lakers coach Phil Jackson $25,000 for criticizing the officials during Game 4 of the finals.

Rays reliever Isringhausen put on DL with pain in surgically repaired right elbow

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay Rays reliever Jason Isringhausen left Saturday night’s game against Washington with pain in his surgically repaired right elbow and was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Ben Zobrist and Gabe Gross homer during 7-run 6th as Rays rough up Nationals 8-3

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Ben Zobrist started the season as the Rays’ super sub. Now he may have won a starting spot at second base.

Rays reliever Isringhausen leaves with pain in surgically repaired right elbow

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay Rays reliever Jason Isringhausen left Saturday night’s game against Washington with pain in his surgically repaired right elbow.

Zobrist and Gross homer during a 7-run inning, Tampa Bay beats Washington 8-3

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Ben Zobrist started the season as the Rays’ super sub. Now he may have won a starting spot at second base.

Kobe Bryant says he can’t imagine playing for anyone but Lakers next year

ORLANDO, Fla. — With LeBron James possibly headlining a stellar class, the 2010 free agency season has already been nicknamed the “Summer of LeBron.”

Driven to excel, bonded by respect, Lakers’ Bryant, Jackson on verge of coveted NBA title

ORLANDO, Fla. — Like any couple, they’ve had their fair share of ups and downs. They’ve feuded publicly and fought privately. They separated for a year and reunited with an understanding that it was best for both of their careers. They’ve grown older together.

California Dreaming: Howard still believes Magic can rally over Lakers in finals

ORLANDO, Fla. — Dwight Howard has his bags packed.

After struggling against Boston, NBA finals redemption is close for Lakers’ Gasol, Odom

ORLANDO, Fla. — One more victory in the NBA finals and maybe Pau Gasol can finally shed the ’soft’ label.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson fined $25,000 for criticizing officials during Game 4

ORLANDO, Fla. — The NBA has fined Lakers coach Phil Jackson $25,000 for criticizing the officials during Game 4 of the finals.

Given second chance, Kapler homers to give Rays 4-3 victory over Nationals

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — One pitch after an error prolonged his at-bat, Gabe Kapler hit a pinch-hit home run that snapped an eighth-inning tie and gave the Tampa Bay Rays a 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday night.

Game 4 of NBA finals draws strong ratings for ABC

ORLANDO, Fla. — Game 4 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic was the most-watched fourth game of the NBA finals in five years.

Magic mirror: Reflection not pretty for Orlando after losing Game 4 of NBA finals to Lakers

ORLANDO, Fla. — Magic coach Stan Van Gundy tried to sleep. He closed his eyes, but his cluttered basketball brain, a cyclone of Xs and Os, wouldn’t relax.

Lakers teammates appreciate Fisher for more than just his history of clutch shots

ORLANDO, Fla. — Derek Fisher did not come back to Los Angeles because he wanted to play for the Lakers again.

In any language, Gasol not happy with Pietrus’ flagrant foul in Game 4

ORLANDO, Fla. — Pau Gasol is from Spain, Mickael Pietrus from France. So when they have a confrontation on the court, what language is it in?

Rays LHP Scott Kazmir throws simulated game ahead of beginning rehab assignment

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Scott Kazmir has thrown 44 pitches in a three-inning simulated game and hopes to begin a rehabilitation assignment next week.

NBA, STATS testing HD cameras during finals, hope to have ready to use for playoffs next year

ORLANDO, Fla. — When a coach in a future NBA finals accuses his players of poor rebounding or defense, he’ll have a new way of proving he was right.

Go Fish: Derek Fisher’s 2 clutch 3s give Lakers 99-91 OT win over Magic and 3-1 series lead

ORLANDO, Fla. — To this day, it is referred to simply as 0.4, the last-second shot that first made Derek Fisher famous.

Fisher’s Tale: Derek Fisher’s 2 3-pointers lift Lakers to a 99-91 OT win over Magic in Game 4

ORLANDO, Fla. — Kobe Bryant is one win from an NBA title to call his own.

Hedo Turkoglu scores 15 points, Magic lead Lakers 49-37 at halftime of Game 4 of NBA finals

ORLANDO, Fla. — Hedo Turkoglu scored 15 points, Dwight Howard grabbed 14 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic took a 49-37 halftime lead over the frustrated and foul-plagued Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the NBA finals on Thursday night.

Carlos Pena has 4 RBIs and Dioner Navarro drives in 3 as Tampa Bay rips Angels 11-1

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Carlos Pena hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs, and Dioner Navarro homered and had three RBIs as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Los Angeles Angels 11-1 on Thursday night.

Ariza gets comeback started with 13 in 3rd quarter, Lakers take 3-1 lead

ORLANDO, Fla. — It was a minor deal that sent Trevor Ariza from Orlando to Los Angeles in 2007.

Former NBA ref Tim Donaghy was attacked in Fla. prison, set for transfer to halfway house

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A spokesman for former NBA referee Tim Donaghy says he was attacked in prison by a fellow inmate who claimed he had ties to the New York mob.

Angels send RHP Kelvim Escobar to bullpen because of shoulder stamina problem

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Angels right-hander Kelvim Escobar has been dropped from the rotation after one start and sent to the bullpen due to a lack of stamina in his surgically repaired throwing shoulder.

DH Pat Burrell set to rejoin the Rays Friday, while SS Jason Bartlett could return Tuesday

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Pat Burrell is set to rejoin the team on Friday after missing 29 games with a neck strain.

Pena has 4 RBIs and Navarro drives in 3 as Tampa Bay beats the Los Angeles Angels

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Carlos Pena hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs, and Dioner Navarro homered and had three RBIs as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Los Angeles Angels 11-1 on Thursday night.

Lakers take 3-1 lead over Magic in NBA finals with 99-91 overtime win

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Los Angeles Lakers have taken a 3-1 lead the NBA finals, rallying to beat the Orlando Magic 99-91 in overtime to move within one win of a 15th championship.

Lakers grab 99-91 OT win over Magic, lead NBA finals 3-1; Derek Fisher hits big 3-pointers

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Los Angeles Lakers have taken a 3-1 lead the NBA finals, rallying to beat the Orlando Magic 99-91 in overtime to move within one win of a 15th championship.