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Los Angeles Lakers: 10 greatest individual Game 7 performances of all time

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 17: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates as the Lakers defeat the Boston Celtics in Game Seven of the 2010 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 17, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 17: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates as the Lakers defeat the Boston Celtics in Game Seven of the 2010 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 17, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers, Shaquille O'Neal
(Photo credit should read MONICA DAVEY/AFP via Getty Images)

No 3: Shaquille O’Neal – 2002 Western Conference Finals

It’s 2002 and the Lakers just ousted the Sacramento Kings in a Game 7 112-106 overtime thriller to wrap up the Western Conference Finals. You’re a Kings fan leaving the arena in Sacramento feeling dejected and you look up to see Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant mooning you from the visitor’s bus. Yes, that actually happened and Kobe referred to it as one of his favorite moments with Shaq.

Perhaps that interaction alone is the reason why Shaquille’s Game 7 performance falls in at No. 3. Thank goodness the internet didn’t run rampant back then like it does now, or else we all would’ve seen parts of O’Neal and Bryant that we wouldn’t be able to erase from our minds. That’s why we’re focusing on Shaq’s team-high 35 points off of 12-for-25 shooting, 13 rebounds, four blocks and two assists in 50 minutes of play.

O’Neal led the two-time defending champions to an away overtime win on the road. The Lakers had flown through the playoffs the year before with ease and were faced with their toughest test. Head coach Phil Jackson snagged his 23rd-consecutive series win and Los Angeles earned its first-ever road win in a Game 7.

Sacramento led 74-73 entering the final quarter of play and regulation ended with both teams tied at 100, forcing free basketball. If it wasn’t for O’Neal, maybe the Kings would’ve advanced to the NBA Finals to win their first championship. However, Shaq insisted that he knew that the Kings were going to lose the game after he looked into his opponent’s eyes during the national anthem.

Instead, the big man led the purple and gold to the finals, where Los Angeles was the 9-1 favorites over the New Jersey Jets. The Lakers swept the Nets to three-peat as NBA Champions for the second time in franchise history. Los Angeles is the last organization to have won a title in three consecutive seasons.

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