Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant’s best game against every team in NBA

Kobe Bryant’s best game against the Detroit Pistons – Game 2 of the 2004 Finals

If it were not for Kobe’s incredible performance in Game 2 of the 2004 finals, the Lakers would have been swept out of the Finals by the Pistons that season. For pride’s sake there was no way Kobe was going to let the Lakers go down in the Finals without a fight and he pretty much single-handedly evened the series at one game apiece.

In their only victory of the series, Kobe had 33 points, seven assists, two steals, and four rebounds in a game that was so close that it went into overtime and it was Kobe’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer that sent the game there. This win gave hope that the series was going to be close and that the Lakers had a chance to win their fourth title in five years.

It turned out to be false hope because the Pistons were the better team that series, but for at least one night at home, the Lakers looked like they had a chance to champions again. Kobe was never afraid of the big stage and had some of his best games of all-time in the Finals, including this one in one of his only two Finals series losses.

Kobe never scored more than 40 points against the Pistons in his career, and since he scored 33 and carried his team to a win the Finals, this game was the clear cut choice as the best against Detroit.