The 2008-09 Los Angeles Lakers were on a mission to capture the NBA championship and avenge their humiliating loss to the Boston Celtics in the finals the previous year.
After getting past the Utah Jazz in five games in the first round of the playoffs, they ran into trouble against the Houston Rockets in the next round, dropping Game 1 in Los Angeles.
That loss made Game 2 a virtual must-win, and Kobe Bryant made sure the Lakers put it in the victory column.
He scored 15 points in the first quarter as they leaped to a 39-25 lead.
This was a very physical and emotional contest that featured multiple incidents, but Bryant maintained his team’s composure throughout.
His 20 second-half points gave him a total of 40 points on 16-of-27 shooting and the Lakers a 111-98 win.
With the Black Mamba stabilizing the Lakers, they outlasted the Rockets in seven games and eventually recaptured the world title for the first time since 2002.
