The 14 greatest playoff games in Lakers franchise history

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson (L) talks to Kobe Bryant (R) and Derek Fisher (C) during their game against the Sacramento Kings 02 June 2002, during the second half of game seven of the Western Conference Finals at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, CA. The Lakers won the game 112-106 and will take on the New Jersey Nets in the NBA Finals starting 05 June. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo by JEFF HAYNES / AFP) (Photo by JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images) /

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Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

1. 2010 NBA Finals Game 7: Lakers vs. Boston Celtics

It was only fitting that the 2010 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics was going to come down to a Game 7.

There are many factors as to why this game is one of the best in Lakers’ history. For one, it had the names: Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Derrek Fisher, Lamar Odom, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, and even Rasheed Wallace, not to mention two legendary head coaches in Phil Jackson and Doc Rivers. It had the stage of a Game 7. And it was Lakers-Celtics.

Just when it felt as if the Celtics were finally going to break away in the third quarter, building a 13-point lead that felt almost insurmountable with how fierce the defense was being played on both sides, as had been the case all series long, Kobe and the Lakers answered.

Kobe scored 10 fourth-quarter points (finished with 23 points on a 6-24 shooting struggle) to put the finishing touches on his 5th championship. Metta World Peace, who had struggled for much of the series until Game 7, added a huge 20 points.

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The Lakers were once again on top of the NBA world, this time by defeating their arch-rivals.

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