5. 1980 ATL DIV CHAMP BOSTON CELTICS v. 12. 2004 SACRAMENTO KINGS
Celtics: 61-21, 1st Atl Div, 2nd Off/4th Def
d. Rockets East Semis 4-0
Lost Sixers East Finals 4-1
#74 overall seed
Coach: Bill Fitch, GM Red Auerbach, Asst KC Jones
Starters
C Dave Cowens 31-Florida St 14.2 14.8 5.4
F Larry Bird 23-Indiana St 21.3 20.5 11.2
F Cedric Maxwell 24-UNCC 16.9 19 12.2
G Tiny Archibald 31-UTEP 14.1 15.3 8.9
G Pete Maravich 32-LSU 11.5 15.6 1
Rotation Reserves
C Rick Robey 24-Kentucky 11.5 PPG 15.4 PER 5.5 WS
F Eric Fernsten 26-USF 3.1 14.4 1.2
F ML Carr 29-Gulliford 11.1 14.6 5.2
G Gerald Henderson 24-VCU 6.2 12.7 1.7
G Chris Ford 31-Nova 11.2 13 5.6
Leaders: Archibald: 2nd Assts, 2nd Assts/Gm, 4th Asst%
Maxwell: 1st FG%, 1st Eff FG%, 1st TS%, 3rd WS, 2nd WS/48, 1st Off Rtng
Ford: 2nd 3Pt%
Bird: 3rd 3 Pt%, 1st Def WS, 4th VORP
2nd in Offense/4th in Defense, the 5th seed in Region is this transition Celtics team - 23 year old Bird playing with 31 year old Cowens with a side order of 32 year old Pete Maravich. Bird's over 20 PER, he and 24 year old Cornbread Maxwell have double digit WS
Kings: 55-27, 2nd Pac Div, 2nd Off/21st Def
d. Mavs West 1st Rnd 4-1
Lost T-Wolves, West Semis 4-3
#183 overall seed
Coach: Rick Adelman
Starters
C Vlade Divac 35 9.9 PPG 16.3 PER 5.3 WS
F Brad Miller 27-Purdue 14.1 19.4 10
F Peja Stojakovic 26 24.2 21.8 13.5
G Mike Bibby 25-Arizona 18.4 19.3 9.3
G Doug Christie 33-Pepperdine 10.1 14 5.7
Rotation Reserves
C Darius Songaila 25-Wake 4.6 14.6 2.6
F Chris Webber 30-Michigan 18.7 17.2 1.1
F Gerald Wallace 21-Alabama 2 10.6 .4
G Bobby Jackson 30-Minnesota 13.8 19.2 3.1
G Anthony Peeler 34-Missouri 5.7 11.8 2.2
Leaders Peja 2nd PPG, 1st FT%, 2nd WS, 5th Off +/- 5th VORP, 5th Off Rtng
Christie 4th Steals
Peeler 1st 3pt%
Miller 3rd Trip-Doub
Limited number of games played for 30 year old C-Webb, hence the low WS total and his coming off the bench in favor of 27 year old Brad Miller, who has double digit WS - also with double digit WS is 26 year old Peja, who also goes over 20 PER. This Kings club is all offense, the 2nd best from '04.
Matchup
C Push
F Bird (Celtics)
F Peja (Kings)
G Bibby (Kings)
G Christie (Kings)
Bench: Celtics
Game 1
1st Qtr
9 Celtics 10 Kings 8
Celtics Archibald. Bird, Cowens, Maxwell, Maravich
Kings Christie, Divac, Christie, Peja
6 Celtics 20 Kings 14
Celtics Bird, Bird, Archibald, Maxwell, Bird
Kings Miller, Peja, Peja
Underway. Bird's got 8 quick ones.
3 Celtics 29 Kings 24
Celtics Cowens, Cowens, Maxwell, Maxwell(3)
Kings Peja, Peja(3) Peeler, Jackson
1st Q Score Celtics 38 Kings 28
Celtics Henderson, Bird, Bird, Maxwell, Fernesten(1)
Kings Webber, Webber
A dozen for Bird; double digit lead for Boston.
2nd Qtr
9 Celtics 46 Kings 32
Celtics Robey, Robey, Robey, Archibald
Kings Bibby, Webber
6 Celtics 54 Kings 34
Celtics Maravich, Maravich, Bird, Bird
Kings Christie
20 point Boston lead - it's not close; Bird's got 16.
3 Celtics 58 Kings 40
Celtics Bird, Maxwell
Kings Jackson, Peja, Peja
Half Score Celtics 64 Kings 47
Celtics Maxwell, Archibald, Ford
Kings Divac(1) Webber, Christie, Divac
18 for Bird - Boston rolling.
3rd Qtr
9 Celtics 73 Kings 55
Celtics Cowens, Archibald, Carr, Bird(3)
Kings Bibby(3) Webber, Peja(3)
6 Celtics 80 Kings 61
Celtics Robey(3) Bird, Archibald
Kings Webber, Webber(3) Peja(1)
Bird's got 23; Boston will take game one.
3 Celtics 84 Kings 64
Celtics Cowens, Maravich
Kings Divac(1) Miller
3rd Q Score Celtics 96 Kings 70
Celtics Cowens, Carr(3) Ford(3) Bird, Bird
Kings Christie, Divac, Songaila
Easy win for Boston - the Kings can't stop them. 25 for Bird.
4th Qtr
9 Celtics 106 Kings 77
Celtics Ford(3) Cowens, Bird, Henderson(3)
Kings Jackson, Jackson(3) Miller
6 Celtics 110 Kings 89
Celtics Bird, Ford
Kings Peja, Webber, Divac, Webber, Jackson, Wallace
3 Celtics 119 Kings 94
Celtics Bird, Archibald(3) Maravich, Maxwell
Kings Divac, Bibby(3)
Final Score Celtics 128 Kings 99
Celtics Fernsten, Carr, Carr, Henderson, Chaney(1)
Kings Massenburg, Wallace(1) Smith
Easy one for Boston. Never a contest.
Bird: 33 pts/12 boards/5 assists - Player of the Game
Maxwell: 17 pts/13 boards
Cowens: 14 pts/9 boards
Archibald: 15 pts/9 assists
Maravich: 10 pts
Ford: 10 pts
Peja: 21 pts/6 boards
Vlade: 12 pts/7 boards
Christie: 10 pts
Webber: 19 pts/6 boards
Jackson: 11 pts/5 boards
Game 2
1st Qtr
9 Celtics 9 Kings 2
Celtics Bird, Cowens, Maxwell, Cowens(3)
Kings Christie
6 Kings 16 Celtics 13
Celtics Maravich, Archibald
Kings Miller, Bibby(3) Peja(4) Bibby
Peja Stojakovic gets the second four point play (Brian Scalabrine) in the tournament. Kings have their first lead in the series.
3 Kings 24 Celtics 24
Celtics Bird, Bird, Archibald(3) Robey, Carr
Kings Peja, Peeler(1) Peeler(3) Songaila
1 Q Score Celtics 32 Kings 28
Celtics Bird, Robey, Ford, Maravich
Kings Webber, Webber
8 for Bird - Boston up 4.
2nd Qtr
9 Celtics 38 Kings 36
Celtics Maravich, Carr, Maravich
Kings Peja, Vlade, Peja, Vlade
6 Kings 43 Celtics 41
Celtics Henderson(1) Bird
Kings Webber, Wallace, Jackson(3)
Look at Sacramento - blown out in game one but they are right there, hanging with Boston, in game 2.
3 Kings 49 Celtics 46
Celtics Ford, Ford, Bird(1)
Kings Christie, Webber, Peja
Half Score Kings 56 Celtics 50
Celtics Bird, Cowens
Kings Vlade(1) Christie, Bibby, Miller
Sacramento is up 6 - their
3 Qtr
9 Kings 68 Celtics 56
Celtics Maravich, Archibald, Archibald
Kings Peja, Jackson(1) Jackson(3) Miller, Webber, Peja
6 Kings 70 Celtics 60
Celtics Archibald, Maravich
Kings Webber
Yo. The Kings are stretching the lead.
3 Kings 80 Celtics 69
Celtics Robey, Carr, Maravich(3) Maravich
Kings Webber(3) Jackson, Peja(3) Divac
3 Q Score Kings Kings 89 Celtics 73
Celtics Robey, Maxwell
Kings Peja(3) Bibby, Miller, Webber
The Kings are going to tie this series - we are headed to a decisive game 3.
4 Qtr
9 Kings 94 Celtics 81
Celtics Bird, Archibald, Archibald, Robey
Kings Webber, Webber(3)
6 Kings 99 Celtics 83
Celtics Maravich
Kings Miller, Bibby(3)
Kings blowout was not an expected outcome.
3 Kings 107 Celtics 92
Celtics Bird, Robey(1) Maxwell, Fernsten, Archibald
Kings Peja(3) Miller, Jackson(3)
Final Score Kings 113 Celtics 95
Celtics Judkins(3)
Kings Buford, Wallace, Smith
Showdown game coming - can the Kings knock off Boston? C-Webb becomes the first bench player to be Player of the Game
Webber: 22 pts/10 boards
Peja: 25 pts/9 boards
Miller: 12 pts/9 boards
Bibby: 15 pts/6 assists
Jackson: 12 pts
Bird: 17 pts/13 boards/7 assists
Archibald: 17 pts/7 assists
Maravich: 19 pts
Robey: 11 pts/12 boards
Game 3
1 Qtr
9 Kings 6 Celtics 2
Celtics Cowens
Kings Peja, Bibby, Miller
6 Kings 13 Celtics 13
Celtics Maravich, Cowens, Bird, Cowens, Cowens, Archibald(1)
Kings Miller, Peja(3) Bibby
The Kings score the first 6 of the game - Cowens comes back with 8 for Boston in the first 6 and it is tied.
3 Celtics 19 Kings 17
Celtics Maxwell, Archibald, Archibald
Kings Vlade, Vlade
1st Score Celtics 26 Kings 21
Celtics Robey, Bird, Ford(3)
Kings Peja, Webber
Tight first qtr, Boston with the lead.
2 Qtr
9 Celtics 35 Kings 21
Celtics Carr, Archibald(1) Cowens, Cowens, Bird
Kings
6 Celtics 41 Kings 33
Celtics Cowens, Archibald, Maxwell
Kings Peja, Vlade, Bibby(3) Miller(3) Webber
6 more for Cowens - the Celtics veteran carrying the load in the must win game 3.
3 Celtics 49 Kings 40
Celtics Robey, Robey, Bird, Ford
Kings Webber(1) Miller, Miller, Songaila
Half Score Celtics 62 Kings 50
Celtics Maravich, Maravich(3) Maravich, Ford, Bird, Fernsten
Kings Songaila, Jackson, Miller, Christie(1) Webber(3)
Look at Pistol Pete - he led Boston in scoring in Game 2 - he goes for 7 in the last 3 minutes and Boston's got a solid lead at the half.
3rd Qtr
9 Celtics 70 Kings 56
Celtics Bird, Cowens, Cowens, Maxwell
Kings Bibby, Christie, Vlade
6 Celtics 76 Kings 68
Celtics Bird(3) Maxwell(3)
Kings Wallace, Peja, Peja(3) Webber(3) Webber
Good last 3 for Sacramento, cutting the deficit to 8.
3 Celtics 80 Kings 73
Celtics Bird, Cowens
Kings Webber(1) Bibby, Peja
3 Q Score Celtics 88 Kings 78
Celtics Maxwell, Bird, Maxwell, Maravich
Kings Vlade, Jackson, Peja(1)
12 minutes of basketball to go.
4th Qtr
9 Celtics 90 Kings 84
Celtics Carr
Kings Christie, Christie, Peeler
6 Celtics 96 Kings 93
Celtics Cowens, Bird, Maxwell
Kings Webber, Vlade, Miller, Bibby(3)
Bibby's triple gets the Kings all the way to a 3 point deficit. Celtics timeout with 6 to play.
For the Kings - Vlade, Miller, Webber, Jackson, Peeler
For the Celts - Cowens, Bird, Maxwell, Tiny, Ford.
5:38: BOS: Bird hits a 15 footer just before the clock expires.
5:24: SAC: Jackson hits a turnaround off the feed from Vlade.
Peja/Bibby/Christie check in.
Pistol Pete/Henderson/ML Carr check in.
4:31: BOS: Empty both ways until ML Carr scores from the paint. 100-95
4:07: BOS: Webber misses, Bird will score from the wing.
Starters now in for both sides.
3:47: BOS: Bird steals a pass, finds Tiny for the easy lay in - Boston's back up by 9.
3:09: SAC: Bibby misses but the Kings keep possession and Bibby converts.
1:42: SAC: Over a minute later, Peja hits an open 2
1:25: BOS: Cowens finds Tiny for an up and under.
1:17: SAC: Bibby triples from the right block. 106-102.
:45: SAC: Boston misses - Peja doesn't - and the Celts lead is down to 2.
:28: BOS: Pistol Pete misses - but he gets his own rebound and scores - big second chance bucket for the vet.
:22: SAC: Peja hits a quick 2. 108-106 Boston.
:16: BOS: Bird's fouled. Hits both.
Peja misses the triple - Cowens gets the board - Pistol Pete is fouled - hits them both - its over.
Sacramento made the Celtics sweat - but the seeding holds.
Final: Celtics 112 Kings 106
Bird: 27 pts/15 boards/7 assists-Player of the Game
Cowens: 22 pts/7 boards
Maxwell: 15 pts/11 boards
Archibald: 12 pts/9 assists
Maravich: 15 pts
All Region Team
C Duncan ('14 Spurs- 2x PotG)
F Bird ('80 Celtics-2x PotG)
F Chambers ('89 Suns)
G EJohnson ('89 Suns-1x PotG)
G Drexler ('90 Blazers-2x PotG)
4. 1998 LA LAKERS v. 13. 1997 ATLANTA HAWKS
Lakers: 61-21, 2nd Pac Div, 2nd Off/11th Def
d. Blazers West 1st Rnd 4-1
d. Sonics West Semis 4-1
Lost Jazz West finals 4-0
#55 overall seed
Coach: Del Harris, GM Jerry West, Asst Kurt Rambis
Starters
C Shaquille O'Neal 25- LSU 28.3 PPG 28.8 PER 10.2
F Robert Horry 27-Alabama 7.4 14.4 6.6
F Kobe Bryant 19 15.4 18.5 6.3
G Nick Van Exel 26- Cincinnati 13.8 17.8 7.1
G Eddie Jones 26-Temple 16.9 18 10.1
Rotation Reserves
C Elden Campbell 29-Clemson 10.1 16.4 4.7
F Corie Blount 29-Cincinnati 3.6 11.9 2.6
F Mario Bennett 24- Arizona St 3.9 22.2 1.5
G Derek Fisher 23- Little Rock 5.8 12.9 3.8
G Rick Fox 28-UNC 12 12.5 5.3
Leaders Shaq 2nd PPG, 1st FG%, 2nd Eff FG%, 1st PER, 4th WS/48, 4th +/1
LA is the 4th seed in the Region, the 2nd best offense in 1998; 25 year old Shaq is the only man on the leader board; nearly 30 PER, double digit WS despite playing in only 60 games. Kobe's 19, in his second season. 26 year old Eddie Jones has double digit WS. Jon Barry is on the bench, not in the rotation. There's a reason I'm mentioning that.
Hawks: 56-26, 2nd Cen Div 8th Off/3rd Def
d. Pistons East 1st Rnd 3-2
Lost Bulls East Semis 4-1
#202 overall seed
Coach: Lenny Wilkens
Starters
C Dikembe Mutombo 30 13.3 PPG 19 PER 11.3 WS
F Christian Laettner 27-Duke 18.1 19.1 11.6
F Tyrone Corbin 34-DePaul 9.5 11 5
G Mookie Blaylock 29-Oklahoma 17.4 20.4 12.5
G Steve Smith 27-Michigan St 20.1 17.4 9.1
Rotation Reserves
C Ivano Newbill 26-Geo Tech 1.4 6.7 1.1
F Alan Henderson 24-Indiana 6.6 15 1.3
F Henry James 31-St Marys 6.7 10.2 2
G Eldridge Recasner 29-Washingon 5.7 11.5 2.5
G Jon Barry 27-Geo Tech 4.9 13.2 2.4
Leaders Mutombo 2nd Reb/Gm, 2nd Def Reb, 1st Blocks, 2nd Blocks/Gm, 2nd Def WS, 3rd Def Rtng, 3rd Block %
Blaylock 1st Steals, 1st St/Gm, 4th VORP, 1st Steal%
The Hawks are the 3rd best defense from '97; 29 year old Mookie Blaylock is over 20 PER with double digit WS; 30 year old Mutombo and 27 year old Christian Laettner also go for double digit WS; here's Jon Barry, a year later he's on the Laker bench, now he's in the Hawks rotation - Jon Barry v. Jon Barry in this one.
Matchup
C Shaq (Lakers)
F Laettner (Hawks)
F Kobe (Lakers)
G Blaylock (Hawks)
G Jones (Lakers)
Bench: Lakers
Game One
1 Qtr
9 Lakers 8 Hawks 4
Lakers Jones, Kobe, Jones
Hawks Laettner, Blaylock
6 Lakers 15 Hawks 6
Lakers Horry(3) Horry, Kobe
Hawks Laettner
Gonna be a tough road for Atlanta if they go down big and Shaq doesn't score a point.
3 Lakers 26 Hawks 15
Lakers Kobe, Shaq, Horry(3) Shaq, Kobe
Hawks Newbill, Laettner, Smith, Smith(3)
Score Lakers 32 Hawks 17
Lakers Shaq, Shaq, Bennett
Hawks Smith
Shaq scores 8 in the back half of the quarter and it's an easy one so far in LA.
2 Qtr
9 Lakers 38 Hawks 24
Lakers Fox, Bennett, Kobe
Hawks Laettner, Recasner(3) Blaylock
6 Lakers 42 Hawks 35
Lakers Blount, Fox
Hawks Mutombo, Barry, Smith(3) Mutombo, Mutombo
Atlanta fights back into the game; Dikembe with 6 in the last 3.
3 Lakers 49 Hawks 39
Lakers Shaq, Campbell, Jones(3)
Hawks Barry, Mutombo
Half Score Lakers 59 Hawks 48
Lakers Shaq, Jones, Kobe, Shaq, Shaq
Hawks Smith, Smith(3) Corbin, Smith(3)
8 for Shaq in the back half of the quarter - Laker lead double digits
3 Qtr
9 Lakers 69 Hawks 56
Lakers Shaq, Fox, Van Exel(3) Fox(3)
Hawks Smith(3) Corbin, Mutombo(3)
6 Lakers 71 Hawks 65
Lakers Shaq,
Hawks Mutombo, Mutombo, Smith(1) Laettner, Laettner
Another big stretch for the Hawks, 7 for Mutombo in the first half of the third.
3 Lakers 78 Hawks 68
Lakers Fox, Shaq, Fox(3)
Hawks Blaylock(3)
3 Q Score Lakers 84 Hawks 74
Lakers Fox, Van Exel, Campbell
Hawks Laettner, Recasner, Mutombo
Rick Fox closes with 7; Lakers by 10.
4 Qtr
9 Lakers 92 Hawks 82
Lakers Kobe, Shaq, Kobe, Jones
Hawks Blaylock(3) Blaylock (3) Smith
6 Lakers 99 Hawks 88
Lakers Kobe(3) Fox, Shaq
Hawks Blaylock, Smith, Mutombo
7 for Kobe opens the quarter, LA up 11.
3 Lakers 110 Hawks 93
Lakers Shaq, Kobe, Jones, Jones(3) Seals
Hawks Laettner, Burton(3)
Score Lakers 117 Hawks 95
Lakers Rooks(3) Campbell, Bennett
Hawks Boyce
Lakers steam home and win going away.
Shaq: 28 pts/15 boards - Player of the Game
Jones: 18 pts/6 boards
Kobe: 21 pts
Fox: 18 pts
Smith: 25 pts/5 boards
Mutombo: 19 pts/11 boards
Laettner: 16 pts/12 boards/5 assists
Blaylock: 15 pts/6 boards/7 assists
Game Two
1 Qtr
9 Lakers 7 Hawks 3
Lakers Shaq, Shaq, Horry(3)
Hawks Blaylock(3)
6 Lakers 12 Hawks 10
Lakers Van Exel(3) Jones
Hawks Laettner(3) Laettner, Corbin
Underway in game 2 - winner meets the '80 Celtics.
3 Lakers 17 Hawks 16
Lakers Jones, Jones(3)
Hawks Corbin(1) Smith(3) Blaylock
1 Q Score Lakers 30 Hawks 23
Lakers Kobe, Shaq, Fisher, Jones(3) Horry(3)
Hawks Blaylock, Laettner, Smith, Recasner(3)
Eddie Jones scores 10 in the first - Lakers up.
2 Qtr
9 Lakers 37 Hawks 25
Lakers Fisher, Horry(3) Kobe
Hawks Henderson
6 Lakers 43 Hawks 34
Lakers Shaq, Van Exel, Shaq
Hawks Smith, Barry(3) Corbin, Barry
Shaq's got 10 - Lakers up 9
3 Lakers 47 Hawks 42
Lakers Shaq, Shaq
Hawks Barry(3) Smith, Henderson
Half Score Lakers 54 Hawks 43
Lakers Jones, Van Exel(3) Fisher
Hawks Laettner(1)
14 for the Diesel, Lakers sure look like they're advancing.
3 Qtr
9 Lakers 57 Hawks 50
Lakers Kobe(3)
Hawks Laettner, Laettner, Smith(3)
6 Lakers 64 Hawks 58
Lakers Kobe, Jones, Campbell(3)
Hawks Mutombo, Mutombo, Barry(3) Mutombo
6 for Mutombo gets the Hawks back in the game.
3 Lakers 68 Hawks 62
Lakers Shaq, Shaq
Hawks Blaylock, Mutombo
3 Q Score Lakers 70 Hawks 69
Lakers Fisher
Hawks Mutombo, Smith, Blaylock(3)
Blaylock hits a triple with 2 seconds left, we've got a good one in LA
4 Qtr
11:50 LA: Shaq's fouled, hits 1.
11:35: LA: After a turnover, Shaq again, four footer.
10:53: ATL: Takes a couple of attempts, but Blaylock scoops/scores.
10:07: LA: Empty trips ends in an Eddie Jones 13 foot turnaround.
9:54: ATL: Steve Smith hits a 9 footer.
9:34: LA: Kobe hits a 3 from the wing.
8:46: ATL: Turnover exchange, Blaylock triples from the top.
8:33: LA: The teenaged Kobe comes back with another triple.
8:15 ATL: And here's Blaylock again - he hits another dead red 3 from the top! 81-79 LA
7:51: ATL: Kobe misses - and Steve Smith hits a corner 3 for the Hawks and they go up 82-81.
7:35 ATL: The Lakers miss again and Laettner thunders home a dunk to give the Hawks a 3 pt lead.
6:58: LA: Shaq's fouled. Hits 1.
6:47: LA: The Lakers kept possession on Shaq's missed FT and Van Exel hits a long 2. Tied.
6:35: ATL: Laettner drills one from the line.
6:20: ATL: LA turnover leads to a Ty Corbin dunk - Hawks by 4. LA time out.
Hawks: Mutombo/Laettner/Corbin/Blaylock/Smith
Lakers: Shaq/Horry/Kobe/Van Exel/Jones
5:48: ATL: Lakers miss and Shaq picks up his 5th foul. Laettner hits both.
5:05: ATL: Lakers miss again - Laettner again, this time a triple- the Hawks are pulling away.
4:52: LA: Shaq down low.
4:16: LA: Hawks miss and Eddie Jones drills a 3 from the top - five quick ones to slice the deficit to 4.
2:15: LA: Neither team scores in the next 2 minutes - Shaq's fouled, hits 1. Hawks by 3, starters in for both sides.
1:47: LA: The Hawks miss again - and Nick Van Exel nails a game tying corner 3!
1:13: LA: Huge offensive foul called on Ty Corbin - and Nick Van Exel hits another 3 - the Lakers were down 9 four minutes ago and now are up 3 and the building is shaking.
:59: ATL: Oh - cool as can be, Steve Smith triples from the wing and it is tied.
Van Exel misses the 3. Laettner gets the board.
:34: ATL: Mutombo gets the feed from Blaylock, drives and scores - Van Exel picks up the foul and the Hawks go up 3.
:15: LA: Shaq down low - the Hawks don't really contest it - 99-98 Atlanta.
Eddie Jones fouls Steve Smith, that's 5 for Jones. Smith misses the first - hits the second - with just 13 seconds left, LA calls time. Can they tie this game up?
The ball goes into Shaq - Shaq in traffic - Shaq in the lane - Shaq rises and fires --
ITS GOOD! SHAQUILLE O'NEAL HITS A GME TYING JUMPER AT THE BUZZER.
Overtime
Both teams starters come out. Shaq and Eddie Jones both with 5 fouls. Laettner with 5.
4:39: ATL: And Eddie Jones is done, he fouls Corbin, who hits both.
4:29: LA: And Laettner is done. He fouls Kobe, who hits both. Rick Fox and Alan Henderson check in for their respective teams.
3:52: ATL: Blaylock misses, but Henderson comes through with the board and Mookie scores on the second chance. 104-102
3:19: ATL: Dikembe blocks Van Exel - he gets the finger wag - Henderson scores to make it 4.
2:56: LA:Van Exel comes back with the dunk.
2:35: LA: Corbin misses and Rick Fox comes through with the tying J.
1:34: LA: Shaq gets a block of his own, swatting one away from Henderson - and he comes through the other way with the 4 footer to give the Lakers a lead.
1:16: LA: Corbin misses and Van Exel doesn't - he scores from the wing.
:42: ATL: Atlanta gets a couple chances, Kobe fouls Mutombo - who hits 1.
:25: LA: The Hawks put Shaq on the line - Lakers up 3 - and he hits them both and that should do it.
:14: LA: Another Shaq FT after Atlanta misses.
:09: ATL: Corbin bangs a 3 to cut the deficit to 3.
Shaq fouled again. Hits 1.
The Hawks can't score - Horry picks up 2 FT for the final score.
Final Score: Lakers 116 Hawks 110
21 and 15 for Laettner, but he fouls out in OT and we will get the Lakers/Celtics matchup in round 2. Shaq hits the buzzer beater to tie it in regulation; just a great performance.
Shaq: 35 pts/16 boards/5 blocks-Player of the Game
Van Exel: 20 pts/9 assists
Horry: 11 pts/16 boards
Kobe: 18 pts/7 assists
Jones: 19 pts/6 boards
All Region Team
C Shaq ('98 Lakers- 2x PotG)
F Bird ('80 Celtics-2x PotG)
F Chambers ('89 Suns)
G EJohnson ('89 Suns-1x PotG)
G Drexler ('90 Blazers-2x PotG)
