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Ron Artest rattled Phoenix's confidence early in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals, but Bryant and his 37 points permanently damaged the Suns' psyche -- including two hanging jump shots from deep on the right wing with the Lakers clinging to slims leads at US Airways Arena.
After some taut moments in the final 10 minutes, the defending champions vaulted into their third straight NBA Finals -- and their 31st as a franchise -- where they will host the Boston Celtics in Game 1 on Thursday.
All because Bryant buried another team's comeback, because he cruelly bore straight through Phoenix's soul and ended the Suns' season with incredible, well-defended, degree-of-difficulty shots from just inside the three-point line.
"Kobe was the man tonight," Jackson said simply.
Suns Coach Alvin Gentry was almost chuckling to hide the pain when Bryant hit the last one.
"We guarded him," Gentry said. "I thought Grant [Hill] was going to block the shot. That was a fall-away three-pointer with a hand in your face, off balance.
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