After sweeping the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the 2001 NBA playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers took on the running-and-gunning Sacramento Kings in the Western Conference semifinals.
The Kings were knocking on the door of championship contention, but Los Angeles took the first three games, setting up a potential close-out contest in Game 4.
But Sacramento didn’t give up easily on its home court. It took a 59-53 lead at halftime, and for the first time in the series appeared to have found its game.
Unfortunately for them, Kobe Bryant was on his game even more.
He scored 20 points in the first half to help keep L.A. within striking distance, and once the fourth quarter started, he turned it up.
The 22-year-old had 15 points in the period, six of them coming after Shaquille O’Neal fouled out with 3:09 left, to help sew up a 119-113 win for the Lakers and another sweep.
On the afternoon, Bryant had 48 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, two steals and one blocked shot. He established a new career playoff high in points, just a couple of days after doing so in Game 3 with 36 points.
He was establishing himself as the NBA’s newest superstar and best all-around player, and he wasn’t even close to being done in that postseason.
