DENVER - The Los Angeles Lakers are headed back to the NBA finals for the second-straight year after rolling over the Denver Nuggets 119-92 Friday to take their semi-final series four games to two.

Kobe Bryant had 35 points and 11 assists and Pau Gasol scored 20 points for the Lakers who will be making their 30th appearance in the championship series.

"This has been a physical march," Bryant said. "Every series has been tough.

"Now we are back at a place where we didn't finish off last year. Hopefully we will do it this year."

J.R. Smith scored 24 points for the Nuggets who also received 25 points from Carmelo Anthony and 13 from Kenyon Martin.

As they seek their 15th championship, the Lakers now get time to rest before meeting either Cleveland or Orlando in the finals which begins Thursday. Orlando leads the other semi-final series three games to two.

If Orlando wins Saturday's game, Los Angeles will have home court advantage.

"The struggle will help us," Gasol said. "Right now we are one more step closer to our goal but we got to win four more games."

Once again Denver was assessed the lion's share of penalties as officials slapped them 22 fouls compared to 19 for the Lakers.

The Lakers continued their playoff dominance over Denver with this series win.

"We saved our best for last," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.

The Nuggets and Los Angeles have met in the playoffs four times with the Lakers coming out on top each time. Los Angeles took a first round series in 1979, won a semi-final series in 1985 and swept the Nuggets in a opening round last year.

Los Angeles took three of four games from Denver during the regular season this year with the Nuggets lone win coming in Colorado on February 27.

The Lakers used a balanced attack for the second straight game as five players figured in double figures in both games five and six.

"We are tough when we use all our weapons," Gasol said. "We don't just focus on Kobe or myself. We have to use all our weapons."

The Lakers shot 57.3 percent from the field to close out the Nuggets in dominating fashion.