2. Lakers vs Blazers – Game 7 – 2000 Western Conference Finals: Kobe to Shaq
The 2000 Western Conference Finals featured two great teams, the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers. The previous six games were exciting and it all came down to a Game 7 in Los Angeles.
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The Lakers got down early and faced a 15 point deficit in the fourth quarter. However, the Lakers showed some resiliency and fought their way back. Brian Shaw was the unsung hero hitting multiple triples to get the Lakers back in the game.
With about three minutes and a half left in the game, the Lakers had tied the game at 75. It was anybody’s ball game, but Kobe and Shaq were not going to let this one slip away.
Kobe Bryant had the ball and drove to his left, the defense collapsed and he hit Shaq with the perfect alley-oop. The Staples Center was wild and the Lakers were now up 85-79 with 41 seconds remaining.
The Blazers simply didn’t have enough time and the Lakers won the game and went on to win their first NBA title since 1988. This was the start of the three-peat, so this moment was crucial for the success of the franchise.
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