2004 NBA Finals: Pistons at Lakers, Gm 2 part 15/15

Game 2 - Lakers 99, Pistons 91 (OT)

After controlling the first half and taking an eight-point lead into halftime, the Lakers allowed the Pistons to score 30 points in the third quarter to cut the deficit to two. Detroit took the lead in the fourth quarter and led by six with 40 seconds left. Then Shaquille O'Neal converted a 3-point play and after a miss by Chauncey Billups, Kobe Bryant hit a 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left to force overtime. In the extra session, the Lakers outscored the Pistons 10-2 to even the series at one game apiece.

Bryant finished with 33 points, while Shaquille O'Neal had 29 -- including six of the Lakers' 10 in the overtime period. The Lakers improved to 7-0 in overtime games in the 2003-04 season (including playoffs). Luke Walton, who didn't play at all in Game 1, had seven points (on 3-3 shooting) and eight assists, helping the Lakers jump out to their big first-half lead. For the second consecutive game, Bryant and O'Neal were the only Lakers in double figures.

The Pistons shot just 1-of-9 from the field in overtime and finished the game shooting 39.5 percent. Chauncey Billups had 27 points and Richard Hamilton added 26, but the two guards combined to miss 24 of their 40 shots.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• 2004
• NBA
• Finals
• Pistons
• Lakers

[DepressedYoungMan]

It is wrong to say the Lakers "should have won this series". The reason they didn't win it is because they were up against a superior defensive team (With the addition of Rasheed Wallace they eventually became one of the best defensive teams in NBA history in my opinion.) Also the fact that the Pistons had offensive weapons from many different players including some players on the bench. Not just 2 or 3. Pistons were the younger, more athletic and just better team.

[redskins2k]

the lakers roster was flawed, got rid of horry, fisher was hurt, and clowns like slava, kareem rush and gary payton were getting PT, THE TEAM WAS CREATED SIMILAR TO THE MIAMI HEAT. BAD ROLE PLAYERS

[chistorro12]

WHAT A DEFENSE BY SHAQ! :D

[CJMacN1990]

This was the best game the lakers had in the whole series they should of won it in 04 but we fell short. Darn it lol! I was in 8th grade.

[sera7ares]

@MrSlik25 LA lost cause Malone was injured, plus Kobe was exhausted by the end of the playoffs. Not to mention, of course, the Kobe-Shaq feud.

[brownmamba08]

Shaqs last home laker game :/

[lalaladuyeniie]

@sravalm21 your stupid, no way this pistons was ever getting swept this year

[Angelious0]

@MrSlik25 duh

[JThero22]

kobe forever