OKLAHOMA CITY (CBS) – Russell Westbrook scored 28 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Los Angeles Lakers 106-90 to eliminate the Lakers in five games.

The victory puts the Thunder in the Western Conference finals, and sends Mike Brown’s Lakers into an offseason full of question marks.

Oklahoma City got their spark in the third quarter, after a turnover by Ramon Sessions,  Westbrook’s circus shot fell, plus the foul,  giving the Thunder a 73-70 lead .

Kobe Bryant did everything in his power to keep his team in the game, scoring 42 points on 18-33 shooting.

But the Thunder did their damage with Bryant starting the final frame on the bench, scoring 10-straight points to start the fourth quarter.

“Oklahoma City was the better team.”  Metta World Peace said. ” Indirectly I’m proud of the Thunder,we got them a few years ago.  But we’re going to work hard to get back.”

The Thunder will face the San Antonio Spurs, who have won 18-straight games.

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