Lakers sweep to three-peat

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Proficiently and professionally, the Los Angeles Lakers finished strong, closed out the New Jersey Nets and won their third straight NBA title with a franchise first -- a 4-0 sweep in the finals.

Shaquille O'Neal had another dominant night Wednesday with 34 points and 10 rebounds, Kobe Bryant went back to playing a supporting role with 25 points in the 113-107 victory.

The rest of the Lakers also came up big in the deciding game -- just as they did a year ago.

It was the 14th title in franchise history, five while the team was in Minneapolis -- including a three-peat -- and nine in Los Angeles. This, however, was the first time they ever beat an opponent in four straight games.

Bryant walked over and hugged Nets coach Bryon Scott, and O'Neal, the finals MVP, sought out Nets guard Jason Kidd and then walked over to embrace his grandfather, who towelled the sweat off O'Neal's face.

Coach Phil Jackson tied Red Auerbach for most titles as a head coach (nine) and passed Pat Riley for the most career postseason victories (156). Jackson also went over to Scott, smiled and shook hands at midcourt.

The Nets all but conceded defeat with 44 seconds left, subbing for Kidd and Kenyon Martin despite trailing by only six points. Bryant made two free throws while the two Nets got a rousing ovation, and 14-year veteran Mitch Richmond hit the final shot of the game -- and his only one of the series.

The Nets played gallantly, trying to salvage some respect in a series that turned out to be a mismatch. But the Lakers had a little too much of everything -- 11 3-pointers, big nights from their two superstars and double-figure contributions from Derek Fisher, Devean George and Robert Horry.

O'Neal, who considers nearby Newark, N.J., to be his hometown, won his third consecutive finals MVP award. He scored 36, 40 and 35 points in the first three games, finishing the series by going 12-for-20 from the field with four assists and two blocks.

He thanked his teammates for "looking for me and having the confidence in me to give me the ball."

"I told them if we made the finals I wasn't going to let them down," O'Neal said.

Bryant added eight assists and six rebounds as the Lakers finished off an almost perfect series.

The Nets abandoned the full-court pressure they had used without much success in the first three games and went to a 2-3 zone whenever O'Neal was in the game. But the Lakers kept moving the ball and finding the open man, and the Nets were unable to come up with the clutch shots they needed to make it just a little closer down the stretch.