2002 NBA Finals Game 3: Lakers vs Nets
Bryant's forty-point explosion silences New Jersey and seals a 3-0 series lead.
The third game of the 2002 NBA Finals stands as a pivotal moment in Los Angeles Lakers history, cementing their path to the second consecutive championship during the 'Three-Peat' era. Played at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford on June 9, 2002, this contest saw the Lakers face off against the New Jersey Nets, led by Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin. While the series was already heavily favored toward Los Angeles due to their dominance in the playoffs, Game 3 served as a crucial opportunity for Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal to assert total control on the road before closing out the title run.
- Series Context
- NBA Finals Game 3 (Lakers lead 2-0)
- Final Score
- Los Angeles Lakers 106, New Jersey Nets 103
- Key Performer
- Kobe Bryant (40 points)
- Coaching Matchup
- Phil Jackson vs. Byron Scott
- Venue
- Staples Center, Los Angeles
Lore & Background
The game itself became a showcase of individual brilliance amidst team dominance. While Shaq controlled the paint with his usual ferocity, it was Kobe's scoring outburst that broke the Nets' spirit late in the fourth quarter. The Lakers' defense managed to stifle Jason Kidd's playmaking enough to secure a narrow but crucial victory. This win put the Lakers on the brink of their second straight title, leaving the Nets with an impossible task of mounting a four-game comeback.
In Their Own Story
The air inside the Continental Airlines Arena was thick with tension as the fourth quarter wound down. Shaquille O'Neal had just thrown down another thunderous dunk, drawing a roar from the traveling Lakers faithful, but Jason Kidd's three-pointer kept New Jersey within striking distance. The clock ticked under two minutes, the score knotted tight at 103-103. Kobe Bryant caught the ball at the top of the key, eyes locked on the rim. He drove left, absorbed contact from Kenyon Martin, and floated a soft shot over the defender's outstretched hand. Swish. The moment silenced the home crowd as Kobe signaled to his teammates that the job was nearly done. In that hostile environment, the path to history felt clear.
Reader's Guide
This match served as Game 3 of the 2002 NBA Finals, a critical juncture where the Los Angeles Lakers held a commanding 2-0 series lead against the New Jersey Nets. The game took place at the Continental Airlines Arena on June 9, 2002, with the stakes incredibly high for both franchises: the Lakers seeking their second consecutive championship and the Nets attempting to salvage their first Finals run.
What happened was a masterclass in offensive execution by the Lakers' dynamic duo. While Shaquille O'Neal dominated the interior, scoring efficiently and drawing fouls, Kobe Bryant delivered one of his most memorable Finals performances. With the game tight in the fourth quarter, Bryant took over, finishing with 40 points to seal the victory. The Nets fought valiantly, keeping the score close until the final minutes, but the Lakers' depth and star power proved too much to overcome.
This match is remembered as the tipping point that effectively ended the series in Los Angeles' favor. By taking a commanding 3-0 lead, the Lakers made it nearly impossible for New Jersey to mount a comeback, which they eventually could not. The performance solidified Kobe's status as an elite closer and highlighted the unstoppable nature of the Shaq-Kobe partnership.
Did You Know?
- Kobe Bryant scored exactly 40 points in this game, his highest scoring output of the entire 2001-2002 playoff run.
- This victory gave the Lakers a 3-0 series lead, making it mathematically impossible for the Nets to win without winning four consecutive games.
- Shaquille O'Neal was named NBA Finals MVP shortly after this game concluded, averaging nearly 36 points per game in the series.
- The Nets had defeated the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat earlier in the playoffs to reach their first Finals appearance since relocating from New York.