LOS ANGELES — It was exactly a year ago that Kobe Bryant demanded a trade, ultimately saying he'd prefer playing on Pluto rather than return to the Los Angeles Lakers.

But the Lakers kept him, and all parties are delighted with how things worked out.

Bryant scored 17 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter, and the Lakers rallied from an early 17-point deficit to beat the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs 100-92 Thursday night and to win the Western Conference finals in five games.

The Lakers get a week off before opening the NBA finals next Thursday night at Boston or Detroit. The Celtics led the Pistons 3-2 in the Eastern Conference finals entering tonight's Game 6.

"Feels great," Bryant said. "I think it started for us in training camp, when there was a lot of talk swirling around. We were always together, eating together, on the bus, joking around together. We built that unity from the first day and we carried that on throughout the season."

Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal teamed up to lead the Lakers to three straight championships starting in 2000, but O'Neal was traded a month after they lost to the Pistons in the 2004 NBA finals. The Lakers didn't win another playoff series since until last month, and that drought was the genesis of Bryant's anger last spring.

But the improvement of several young players and the acquisition of Pau Gasol from Memphis four months ago made a huge difference.

"I think it is a tremendous accomplishment," Bryant said of winning the conference championship. "I think the West is extremely tough. We're all extremely excited and proud about it. Now, it's time to go on and see if we can't finish it off."

The Lakers are 12-3 in the playoffs, including 8-0 at Staples Center, where they haven't lost in two months. They have won 14 straight home games and 21 of their last 24 playoff games at home.

"We came out here, played our game, and won," said Lamar Odom, who had 13 points and eight rebounds. "It's satisfying, but one more step."

Gasol had 12 points, a career playoff-high 19 rebounds, five assists and four blocked shots, and backup guards Sasha Vujacic and Jordan Farmar added nine and eight points respectively for the Lakers.

The Lakers' youth, quickness and athleticism determined this series. The turning point occurred in Game 1, when the Spurs took a 20-point third-quarter lead before the Lakers outscored them 44-20 for an 89-85 victory.