The Los Angeles Lakers tied the 2001 NBA Finals with a win over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2, but it came in a very competitive game, and many thought the rest of the series might be a dogfight.
The Finals moved to Philly for Game 3, making it the first such game in that city since the Sixers swept an injury-riddled Lakers team in 1983.
But it was also a homecoming for Kobe Bryant.
Even though Bryant had spent much of his childhood in the Delaware Valley region, a sort of antipathy was building between him and his hometown. Perhaps it wasn’t surprising, as Philadelphians tend to hate anything that has nothing to do with their city.
But it didn’t matter to Bryant, as he came out hot in Game 3.
After the two teams played to a standstill in the first quarter, he went into nova mode, making eight straight shots in the second period to drive Los Angeles to a 55-45 halftime lead.
As they would do all series long, the Sixers fought back in the second half. When Shaquille O’Neal fouled out with 2:21 left in the fourth quarter and the Lakers clinging to a two-point lead, it looked like the Sixers were about to channel Rocky Balboa and come up with an inspiring come-from-behind win.
Instead, another hero would emerge for L.A.
With less than a minute left and the Lakers only up by one, Philly was able to get the ball out of Bryant’s hands, but it found its way into the hands of Robert Horry, who nailed a 3-pointer to secure a 96-91 win for the Purple and Gold.
Bryant finished with 32 points, while O’Neal had 30 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots.
Horry had been a clutch 3-point shooter for the 1994 and 1995 world champion Houston Rockets, but since he was traded to the Lakers in 1997, some had wondered where his magical shooting touch had gone.
Game 3 of the 2001 championship series was a huge step towards Horry regaining his old reputation and earning the nickname “Big Shot Rob.”
It was also a huge step toward the Sixers losing their fight and succumbing to the dominance of O’Neal, Bryant and the Lakers.
