LAKERS WIN 15TH TITLE

Kobe Bryant has the NBA title he needed most, the one without Shaq. Bryant's seven-year chase of a coveted championship is over. He's got his fourth, and Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson his record 10th, a ring for each finger. One year after failing in the finals, Bryant and the Lakers have redemption, and all the rewards that go with it. They earned their 15th title tonight as Bryant scored 30 points and Pau Gasol added 14 and 15 rebounds in a 99-86 win in Game 5 over the Orlando Magic, who ran out of comebacks.

With Phil Jackson's 10th Championship, he can light his own victory cigar as he passed Red Auerbach for the most championships by a coach in NBA history.