Lakers' Bryant takes a shot in the fourth quarter of Game Six of the Western Conference Finals against the Phoenix Suns. (AFP)

PHOENIX (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Phoenix Suns 111-103 on Saturday to clinch their Western Conference finals series 4-2, setting up another NBA finals epic against the Boston Celtics.

Kobe Bryant wrapped up a magnificent series with 37 points and Ron Artest added 25 as the Lakers secured their 31st finals appearance, chasing their 16th championship.

The Lakers and Celtics, the NBA's premier teams for much of the league's history, will meet in the finals for the 12th time with Game 1 Thursday in Los Angeles. They are the NBA champions each of the past two years – Boston beat the Lakers two years ago, and Los Angeles topped Orlando last season.

“We’ll see how much we matured,” Bryant said. “They challenged us extremely well in the finals a couple years ago. Now is a chance to see how much we've grown.”

Bryant scored nine points in the final 2 minutes, including what looked like an impossible 23-footer with Grant Hill in his face and 34 seconds to play. The basket put Los Angeles up 107-100 and the scrappy Suns were finished.

Amare Stoudemire, in what may have been his last game with the Suns, scored 27 points but struggled to a 7-of-20 shooting night. He can opt out of the final year of his contract and has said chances are “50-50” that he will play elsewhere next season.

Steve Nash added 21 points and nine assists in his 118th playoff game, the most for anyone who has never reached the finals.

Bryant, with his 10th 30-point performance in his last 11 postseason games, moved ahead of Jerry West and into a tie with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for second-most 30-point playoff games at 75. He has  a way to go for the record of 109 held by Michael Jordan.

Bryant also extended his NBA record to eight straight 30-point closeout games on the road.

“I always thought he was the best player in basketball,” Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry said.

Channing Frye had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Suns, who have reached the finals only twice in their history and never have won a championship.