Lakers 99, Magic 86
The Lakers’ chartered plane receives a firefighters’ welcome at LAX on Monday, the morning after the team beat the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to clinch the league championship. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
A ground-crew worker uses Lakers flags to guide the team’s chartered jet to a stop upon its arrival at LAX. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Lakers star Kobe Bryant, center, carries the trophy he earned as most valuable player in the NBA Finals as teammate Derek Fisher hauls the league championship trophy at LAX. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Guard Derek Fisher, whose clutch shooting propelled the Lakers to a key win in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, poses with the championship trophy at the Imperial Terminal at LAX. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Kobe Bryant drives away with his MVP trophy at the Imperial Terminal at LAX. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
A beaming Derek Fisher, still accompanied by the Larry O’Brien trophy -- bestowed on the NBA’s top team -- is ready to hit the road after returning from Orlando, Fla., to LAX. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
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Lakers teammates on the bench celebrate the closing seconds of Game 5 of the
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Lakers guard Kobe Bryant shows Magic center Dwight Howard the ball before pulling it away and hitting an off-balance bank shot in Game 5 on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy reacts to Lakers point guard Derek Fisher’s three-pointer in Game 5 on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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A Lakers fan tries to distract Magic guard Courtney Lee as he’s shooting a free throw in Game 5 on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Lakers players stand at attention during the national anthem before Game 5 of the
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Lakers guard Kobe Bryant listens to the national anthem before Game 5 in Orlando on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Kobe Grandstaff, 7, lets the Lakers’ star guard know what’s up before Game 5 on Sunday in Orlando. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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