TITLE: Lakers clinch 17th championship with decisive Game 6 victory over Heat in 2020
SLUG: lakers-clinch-17th-championship-game-6-heat-2020
CONTENT:
The Los Angeles Lakers secured their 17th NBA championship on Oct. 11, 2020, overwhelming the Miami Heat 106-93 in Game 6 of the Finals inside the NBA’s Orlando bubble.
Los Angeles entered the pandemic-interrupted 2019-20 season as the Western Conference’s top seed and advanced to the title round after dispatching the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets in five games each. Miami, led by Jimmy Butler, pushed the Finals to six games before the Lakers closed out the series.
A narrow defeat in Game 5—highlighted by Danny Green’s missed last-second three-pointer—set the tone for an aggressive Los Angeles start in Game 6. The Lakers built a lead of more than 30 points before halftime, effectively eliminating suspense in the clincher.
LeBron James recorded 28 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists to earn his fourth Finals MVP award, while Anthony Davis added 19 points and 15 boards. Rajon Rondo supplied a spark off the bench with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, along with four rebounds and four assists.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the franchise celebrated the championship within the bubble alongside family members rather than hosting a traditional parade in Los Angeles. The victory pulled the Lakers into a tie with the Boston Celtics at 17 titles apiece—a mark Boston surpassed in 2024 by winning its 18th championship.
Source: LakersNation.com
