It would end up being the only win the Los Angeles Lakers would get against the steel-tough Detroit Pistons in the 2004 Finals, but Game 2 would prove to be another feather in Kobe Bryant's basketball cap.
Game 1 had been decisive for the visiting Pistons, who won handily 87-75, although Kobe (25 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, 2 blocks) and Shaquille O'Neal (34 points and 11 rebounds) would get theirs. Game 2 was tight basically all the way - 44-36 Lakers at half, 68-66 Lakers after three - and would continue that way down the stretch.
Like Game 4 of the Finals four years earlier, foul trouble would befall O'Neal, who would pick up his 5th foul with 6:17 remaining in the 4th, with the Lakers leading 75-73. To make things more dire, the Lakers - with O'Neal off the court in the 2004 playoffs - had a point differential of -24. Additionally, with Karl Malone working on a balky knee that had bothered him since December, it was Bryant who would once again need to pick up the slack.
That he did.
With the game tied at 75 with 5:06 remaining, Bryant caught the ball on the left side of the floor beyond the three point arc. Tightly guarded by Tayshaun Prince, Bryant received a screen from Luke Walton, dribbling right. Met on a switch by Rasheed Wallace and with Prince on his hip, Bryant drove strong to the middle, dribbling twice, and laid the ball high over Ben Wallace, the lay up good to give his team a 77-75 edge. It would be the only points by the Lakers in the span that O'Neal was on the bench, with him checking back in with 3 minutes to go and the Lakers down 81-77.
After a Ben Wallace dunk made it 83-80 Detroit, Bryant would - on the next possession - catch the ball in a similar spot that he did on his previous score. Guarded tight again by the long-armed Prince, Bryant caught and faced up. He quickly darted left toward the baseline, turning in towards the basket as he picked up momentum. As he drove, Rasheed Wallace came over to contest. Bryant leapt, and dunked it with two hands over the contested arms of Wallace. Al Michaels, on the play by play for ABC, responded with the sound of disbelief - "how did he do that? how did he do that?". Doc Rivers - on the commentary with Michaels - had a similar reaction. "I have no idea", stated an in-awe Doc. 2 minutes remaining, Lakers down 83-82.
45 seconds later, Bryant was in attack mode again, ball caught in the same spot, and screen received by Walton. Hard drive right and into the paint, and he was fouled as Wallace once again converged to contest. Bryant missed the first free throw, but made the second. 26 points on 11 out of 21 from the field, with 4 out of 5 free throw makes. 87-83 Pistons. Ben Wallace - on the next Piston possession - corralled his 14th rebound off of a Richard Hamilton miss, and laid the ball in. 89-83 Pistons, 47.8 seconds remaining, and time ticking on the Lakers' chance to even up the series.
Bryant was short on his next three point attempt, but O'Neal rebounded and touched the ball off the glass plus the foul. He had been shooting 43% from the line in the playoffs, but made this attempt for his 23rd point of the night. 89-86, 35.9 remaining. Billups missed a bank shot, rebounded by O'Neal, who passed to Bryant. Timeout Lakers, 10.9 remaining.
Bryant began the out of bounds play just outside the left block. Malone in-bounded to O'Neal above the arc, who then passed to Walton, who dribbled right. O'Neal set a screen for Bryant, who came to the ball and caught. Hamilton switched off on Bryant. Kobe drove left, three dribbles. He then stopped, sizing up Hamilton with two left hand dribbles above the arc. He rose quickly and fired.
All net. Pandemonium at Staples Center.89-89 with 2.1 seconds remaining, Bryant with 29. Doc Rivers had another complimentary remark, one of the highest order. "Whatever it is, Kobe Bryant has it. Just like Michael Jordan had it. Prince on the in-bound threw to Rasheed Wallace in the post, who had the ball knocked away and stolen by Malone.
Overtime.
Bryant retrieved the jump ball, and, driving inside, dished off to O'Neal who dunked it. The Lakers were on an 8-0 run. Bryant would pick up his 5th foul with 4:11 left in the overtime, as Hamilton drove into him and initiated contact. Billups would miss on a shot, and Bryant would bring the ball up after getting a pass from Derek Fisher. With a left side dribble up the floor, Bryant crossed over to his right hand as Prince checked him above the arc. Two more dribbles, and a Malone screen. Bryant drove hard once again, and laid it up over Prince's outstretched arm. The ball took one bounce on the rim and dropped in. 93-89. 3:45 remaining. 31 for Kobe.
On the next Laker possession, Bryant fed O'Neal, who jump hooked over Ben Wallace. 95-89. 12-0 Laker run in the last 2:45, with all points by the Lakers' dominating one-two punch. A Hamilton score would make it 95-91.
Bryant again had the ball, up the left side, getting that same Malone screen, and darted towards the basket. Driving right again, he elevated and hit a smooth bank shot over Prince. 97-91 Lakers. 2:25 remaining. Al Michaels remarked on Bryant's greatness once again: "He lives for this. He just lives for this."
A Walton lob to O'Neal would make it 99-91 with 1:20 left, effectively icing the game. Bryant would retrieve a Lindsay Hunter heave with seconds remaining. Ball game.
33 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds. 14 of 27 from the field - 14 points in the 4th quarter and overtime. Age 25, and Kobe had continued to cement his place as an all-time great player with an unmistakable clutch gene.
In his post-game interview with ABC's Michelle Tafoya, Bryant was asked what it is about pressure situations that brings out the best in him. His response? "it's all about the challenge. We're playing for the highest stakes, and I can rise to that."
Another addition to the growing legacy of Kobe Bryant.
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