Christmas Days Special: Allen Iverson vs. Kobe Bryant (2002)
Vložit
- čas přidán 20. 08. 2024
- The Los Angeles Lakers proved they are more than a two-man team.
With Shaquille O'Neal on the injured list and Kobe Bryant struggling, the Lakers received significant contributions from others in rallying from a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter for an 88-82 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in a rematch of the 2001 NBA Finals.
Samaki Walker made the start at center and collected a season-high 18 points to go with 10 rebounds while Stanislav Medevedenko added 12 points for Los Angeles after O'Neal was placed on the injured list with toe problems.
"Well, that was a good win for our team," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "A lot of momentum in the second half, good defense and an enthusiastic crowd behind us is a big help for us."
Philadelphia was in control through the first three quarters and took a 73-60 advantage on a basket by Corie Blount with 9:34 remaining. Bryant had just four points on 2-of-14 shooting through three quarters as he was clearly hampered by a strained muscle in his rib cage.
But his jumper triggered a 19-2 run that gave Los Angeles the lead for good at 79-75 with 4:17 to play. Lindsey Hunter had a pair of 3-pointers in the burst, including one that gave the Lakers a 77-75 lead.
"I think defensively we turned it up a lot," Hunter said. "We limited them to one shots, created some turnovers. It was a really good defensive effort by everybody."
A basket by Dikembe Mutombo pulled the Sixers within 79-77 with 2:41 remaining before Bryant finally got his game untracked. He scored a pair of baskets and Robert Horry converted two foul shots to extend to 85-77 with 27 seconds to go.
"I was just waiting and pacing myself throughout the game for the right time to find my shots," Bryant said. "And it came in the fourth."
Philadelphia made one last charge as Matt Harpring's 3-pointer cut the deficit to 85-82 with 14 seconds left. Devean George made one free throw and Allen Iverson turned over the ball on the next possession to seal the Sixers' fate.
"We had this one in the bag," Iverson said. "We gave this one away. We gave them a gift, a Christmas gift."
Despite his struggles, Bryant just missed a triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Brian Shaw scored 13 points off the bench and Horry added 11 boards.
But the production of Walker and Medevedenko was a major surprise for two players who entered the contest averaging a combined 9.7 points. Walker made 7-of-9 shots while Medevedenko converted 6-of-8.
"Today I was a little more aggressive," Walker said. "I knew where to move and felt a lot more comfortable."
Iverson led all scorers with 31 points for Philadelphia, which was limited to six field goals in the fourth quarter. The Sixers committed seven of their 15 turnovers in the final quarter.
"We came out in the fourth quarter and made some driving plays and all of a sudden, we started shooting jumpers and they started making them," Sixers coach Larry Brown said. "We think we're going to outscore somebody and that's not how we play."
Mutombo had 12 points and 13 rebounds while Derrick Coleman also had a double-double with 12 and 10. But the Sixers dropped the opener of a seven-game Western Conference road trip and have lost six of seven on the road.
"We don't finish games out," Iverson said. "The stuff worked, we just had to stay with it. You have to keep playing defense, obviously. When stuff works, you have to keep doing it."
Iverson was hands down one of the toughest players in the game.... he inspired me and and so many others to start hoopin! #respect
sixers should bring these jerseys back. their new ones are pretty lame.
Man i can't tell how long i've been looking for this game!! I remember watching on Xmas Day back in 01. Thanks Penny!! Happy New Year Bro!!
Penny you hot w/ these Allen Iverson videos boy. good looks man & Happy Holidays
0:49 seconds you see on of the fastest sprints in the NBA at the time. That's why Iverson is one of the best P.G's of all time.
And it was so effortless too
And thats he was a football player cause hes quickness
The best ever.....Thanks to u brother penny
The final NBA/NBC Christmas game
The good ole days when the NBA didn't force teams to wear shitty Christmas day uniforms.
The days of Marv Albert calling games on NBC- I miss that
R.I.P. Steve "Snapper" Jones.
I MISS AI
The Legend..Bubba Chuck da Great One
This is 2001 though.
2001-2002 season really.
moe
yes. It's Christmas day 2001, and not 2002 as stated in the title.
Filip Tomić yes 2001 Christmas going into 2002
Exactly because Kobe had his fro cut off after February 2002. If this was in 2002 he would not have had the fro.
Filip Tomić 2001 Christmas
It's a shame Sixers-Lakers only met once in the Finals. Iverson vs. Kobe would have been a lot more fun than watching Shaq dominate the New Jersey Nets.
And I think the 2001phily roster was the worst of 99/03 era
The departure of Pat Croce hurt the 76ers. After watch Croce as an analyst and a reporter for the NBA on NBC in the 2001-2002 season, the team wished they had him back.
"your not gonna say Tyrone Lue!?" Napster 😂
AI KILLING THE LAKERS , OHHH THE GOOD OLD DAYS! =]
Lol. Someone needs to watch until the end.
Eddie Natal the goooood old dayyyyss
Only if they got more players to help allen get a ring :(
Wtf are you talking about? David stern didn't choose the players on the sixers.. That's their GM's fault. The laker were the best team. Get over it
Zack Robinson so truth......
Stop with the rings. A lot of great players have zero rings. You need some luck too.
I wish you could upload the whole game halftime included.
Merry Xmas to all!!!!
pennyccwai do u have the following match up to this game...cuz in philly Ai punish dem...
CHRISTmass.
giving the mamba the work...
Great Upload!! I remember watching this game!! Penny you think you could upload highlights from the 2000 playoffs vs Charlotte hornets?? Thanks Bro!
0:34 AYO CHILLOUT A.I.!!!
1:01 🍇
Really the only prayer that the Lakers had in slowing down A.I in his prime was to play zone defense, just like the only way that you can stop and or slow down 7 FOOTER Durant from the outside and Step Curry is to stay in front don't fall to the jab step fakes, just look at their hips instead and SWIPE at the ball every time that they go to set up for their jump shot.
This is 2001 not 2002
*2001-2002 season though
Fucking Kobe lol. I love him but he always had one up on my main man iverson
3:42 "I ain't block that??" 😭😭😭😭
6:23 Younger Mike Woodson
no freethrows for Iverson second half. this is how you control games. just like curry shooting 15 freethrows as a jump shooter vs LeBron only shooting 4 as a slasher.
Keen Observation
2:47 Iverson sobrevalorated? LOL
Pedro Antonio Lenis wats that mean
1st merry Xmas.
Ai so silky
Kings were the only team that matched up well with this faker team