2004 NBA Finals: Lakers at Pistons, Gm 4 part 1/13

Game 4 - Pistons 88, Lakers 80

The two teams entered the fourth quarter tied, but the Pistons outscored the Lakers 32-24 over the final 12 minutes to take a 3-1 series lead. The Lakers -- who had been dealing with internal controversy -- began to unravel, as Kobe Bryant picked up a technical foul late in the game, and Shaquille O'Neal could be seen in the Lakers' huddle yelling at someone.

Rasheed Wallace had a team-high 26 points for the Pistons and matched Ben Wallace for the team lead in rebounds (13). The balanced Pistons also got 23 points from Chauncey Billups and 17 from Richard Hamilton. Detroit's starting backcourt of Billups and Hamilton outscored the Lakers starting backcourt of Bryant and Gary Payton 40-28.

O'Neal led all players with 36 points and 20 rebounds, but attempted just 21 shots from the field. By comparison, Bryant attempted 25, including 14 in the first half. However, he made just eight shots for the game, finishing with 20 points.

This was the final game in Karl Malone's career. Struggling with a knee injury for much of the postseason, Malone would not be able to play in Game 5. He finished with two points and five rebounds in Game 4, giving him 4,761 points in his postseason career. At the time it was the third most in NBA history. (Shaquille O'Neal passed him for 3rd in 2006.)

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• 2004
• NBA
• Finals
• Pistons
• Lakers

[iaminparties]

@Snoopydude13

You are delusional.Pistons were much better team.

[dodoschizophonic]

Don't post the bloody score !!!

[Llfestock]

Love Doc Rivers



[ashjk92]

0:00 to 0:08 - favorite part of video

[143jetblack]

I hate this finals series ... This was the second finals series that i watched since i started watching the NBA...

[2pacisthebest90]

kobe wouldbe the face of the nba

[23jamesdixon]

it's ridiculous how little they look for shaq to start this game considering how dominant he is once he gets the ball. they're not even running the traditional triangle sets which are initiated in the post, it's just weird..

[gunner4192]

@redskins2k lol....

[saimtil]

@redskins2k Kobe wouldn't be the face of the NBA, SHAQ would because at the time he was the team captain!! Besides you can't play physical D in the league anymore. Lakers got rocked by Detroit. Shit's rough.

[redskins2k]

this game was a fixed game, and killed the lakers chances, the lakers could not play physical D, My opinion is David stern did not want Kobe to win a title and be the face of the league pending a raoe trial where he could of served life in prison that summer.