With Los Angeles losing home-court advantage and in unfamiliar position during their historic playoff run, most anticipated a dominant performance to even up the series before the Finals returned to Philadelphia for the first time since 1983.

In Game 2, the Lakers found themselves in another highly-contested matchup as they only held a 49-47 lead at halftime. Fortunately, they were able to distance themselves in the third quarter en route to a 98-89 win.

With the Lakers able to limit Iverson to 23 points (10-of-29 shooting), O’Neal had another historical performance. Along with 28 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists, O’Neal had eight blocks.

It tied a record for most in an NBA Finals game, joining Bill Walton, Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing.

Led by O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, the Lakers would go on to win all three games in Philadelphia and became the first team to win back-to-back championships since the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls. Most importantly, Los Angeles made league history as they had the highest win percentage in the playoffs (93.8).

Shaquille O’Neal won Finals MVP

O’Neal also captured his second consecutive Finals MVP award after averaging 33.0 points, 15.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 3.4 blocks in 45.0 minutes.

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Despite Jerry West’s 60-foot buzzer-beater in Game 3 which only counted for two points at the time, the Lakers fell short in overtime and were on the brink of a 3-1 series deficit. In pivotal Game 4, it was another highly-contested matchup as there was only a 5.7-point differential through the first three games.

While the Lakers outscored their opponent by 10 points in the second quarter and led by seven points at halftime, the Knicks stormed back and forced a second consecutive overtime. As the Lakers outscored the Knicks 22-16 in overtime and tied the series at two games apiece, it marked the highest scoring output in league playoff history.

While Dave DeBusschere, Dick Barnett, and Willis Reed all scored at least 20 points and Walt Frazier chipped in 16 points and 11 assists, New York could not contain Los Angeles’ big three.

Jerry West led the way and finished with 37 points, five rebounds, and 17 assists, but received plenty of help. Wilt Chamberlain nearly had a triple-double (18 points, 25 rebounds, and seven assists) as Elgin Baylor finished with a double-double (30 points and 13 rebounds).

With the 1970 NBA Finals eventually going seven games, the Lakers could not win their first championship since moving from Minneapolis to Los Angeles, which would have ended the team’s 14-year drought.

Considered one of the greatest moments in league history, Reed played in Game 7 despite suffering a severe thigh injury in Game 5 and a torn muscle in Game 6. In 27 minutes, the Knicks center finished with just four points and three rebounds, but his presence on the court propelled New York to their very first championship.

Lakers got revenge on Knicks in 1972

Fortunately for the Lakers, they would get their revenge on the Knicks in the 1972 NBA Finals as West, Chamberlain, and Gail Goodrich defeated them in five games.

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Through the first round against the Phoenix Suns (36-46) and the conference semifinals against the Portland Trail Blazers (42-40), Los Angeles won by an average margin of 18.8 points en route to their conference finals matchup against the Denver Nuggets (52-30).

In Game 1, it appeared the Lakers were on an easy path to a fourth consecutive NBA Finals appearance after defeating the Nuggets, 139-122. However, they were stunned in Game 2 at The Forum and lost homecourt advantage as they traveled to the McNichols Sports Arena for Games 3 and 4.

Although the Lakers were able to take a commanding 3-1 series lead following a narrow 120-116 win in Denver, they wanted to send a message to the Celtics, who were facing the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

With both teams looking to close out their series on May 22, 1985, the Lakers delivered.

After a competitive first quarter, the Lakers outscored the Nuggets by 23 points in the second quarter, which eventually resulted in a dominating 153-109 win. Led by Magic Johnson’s 17 points and 19 assists and James Worthy’s 25 points, Los Angeles held Denver to 38.5 percent shooting from the field and forced 21 turnovers.

Lakers beat Celtics in NBA Finals

As the Celtics closed out their series against the Sixers, it set up another chapter in the greatest rivalry in all of sports.

The Lakers would go on to win the series in four games, winning their third championship in six years as a part of a span of five championships in nine years.

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Unfortunately, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was the league’s Most Valuable Player during the 1979-80 NBA season, suffered a severely sprained ankle in the 108-103 win. Abdul-Jabbar did not travel to Philadelphia for Game 6 and was considered doubtful in a potential Game 7.

Thus, Jim Chones and Mark Landsberger were the only centers remaining on the Lakers roster. In one of the greatest performances in NBA history, Magic Johnson started at center after being the team’s point guard during his rookie season.

Playing all but one minute, Johnson finished with 42 points (14-of-23 shooting from the field and 14-of-14 from the free-throw line), 15 rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and one block. With the Lakers up only two points and five minutes away from a Game 7, the 20-year-old scored nine points during this stretch to lead them to a 123-107 win on May 16, 1980.

On this date 40 years ago, rookie @MagicJohnson led the @Lakers to an NBA championship in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals!

Starting at center in place of an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and playing forward and guard… Magic recorded 42 PTS, 15 REB & 7 AST on his way to MVP honors. pic.twitter.com/7BF6BH8Ej6

— NBA (@NBA) May 16, 2020

Despite winning the 1980 NBA Finals MVP Award as a rookie, Johnson naturally gave credit to his teammates. Along with Jamaal Wilkes’ 37 points and 10 rebounds, Michael Cooper chipped in 16 points as Chones and Landsberger combined for 16 points and 20 rebounds in Abdul-Jabbar’s absence.

In six games, Johnson averaged 21.5 points (57.3 percent from the field), 11.2 rebounds, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.7 steals in 42.7 minutes.

Lakers’ Magic Johnson was only rookie to win Finals MVP

Although Johnson would go on to win numerous individual awards and championships, his performance in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals is widely considered his best game ever. To this day, Johnson is still the youngest and the only rookie to win the award.

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On April 12, 2013, Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant made two clutch free throws after a torn Achilles injury against the Golden State Warriors, literally doing whatever he could to will his team to the playoffs.

Despite having Bryant, Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, Steve Nash, and Metta World Peace, the Lakers did not meet their 2012-13 NBA season expectations and were making a late push in hopes of just making the 2013 NBA playoffs.

With Bryant guaranteeing the Lakers would make the playoffs, the 34 year old in his 17th NBA season willed them by playing most — if not all — 48 minutes in a handful of games.

In what would become a game between the present and future of the league, Bryant recorded 34 points (9-of-21 from the field and 12-of-16 from the free throw line), five rebounds, and four assists while playing every minute.

Despite some warning signs in the third quarter, Bryant remained in the game and willed the Lakers back with them down six points midway in the fourth.

After back-to-back three-pointers to tie the game, Bryant drove past Harrison Barnes but fell down on a non-contact play. While Bryant thought Barnes tripped him, the replays showed otherwise as the Lakers called timeout.

Despite what would eventually be diagnosed as a torn Achilles, Bryant slowly walked to the free-throw line under his own power and made two clutch free throws to tie the game at 109 for the Lakers.

Bryant then headed back to the locker room on his own power as the Lakers escaped with a 118-116 win over a young Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

In a story later told by Lakers long-time trainer Gary Vitti, Bryant actually took a shot at Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce after he made those free throws, making it a point to walk off under his own power instead of getting help from a wheel chair.

Lakers (43-37) went to playoffs

Despite not being able to finish out the season, Kobe Bryant’s heroics pushed the Lakers into the playoffs, where they would lose to the San Antonio Spurs in the first round.

Unfortunately, injuries became a theme for Bryant to finish out his career after the Achilles issue, as he never quite got back to his pre-injury form.

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