2004 NBA Finals: Lakers at Pistons, Gm 4 part 11/13

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

[sera7ares]

@AdrianAquino22 Kobe actually got a great game in Game 2. Sucked in the rest of them, unfortunately.

[AdrianAquino22]

Lakers fan here (and Kobe is my idol): This pistons team play like champs and the lakers play awful. Shaq play well in game 1 and 4... Kobe play awful all series. =/ Payton, Malone, Walton, Rush = garbage!

[hellahotdude]

wow thats $6 million a year for walton...

[MrEdHizay]

@BRBaller1213 yea

[BRBaller1213]

@MrEdHizay LMAO dumb comment. In the 90s-00s the Braves won their division like 15 years in a row in MLB and won only 1 title, were they a fluke too?

[littlteapot]

@jfh06d That might explain why he is a coach not one of those stupid talking heads on espn.

[MrEdHizay]

@MRTUPAC28 pistons are a fluke they go to the east finals that much times and only win 1 title with this team LMFAO against a dismantled laker team with injuries and shaq and kobe problems

[MRTUPAC28]

@MrPatrickdoan Sure did and you can't win every year. 16 titles adn counting. Did I see the Pistons in the playoffs last year lmao?

[MrPatrickdoan]

@MRTUPAC28 didnt your lakers get swept?

[MRTUPAC28]

@chronodude10 Lol wow if you didn't like my comment, why respond to it? Also I have been over this finals lost because I have seen the Lakers will numerous titles. This will be the last title the Pistons will EVER win.