This Day in 2004: Kareem Rush’s Six Threes Carry Lakers Past Timberwolves and Into NBA Finals
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The Los Angeles Lakers clinched their fourth NBA Finals berth in five seasons on May 31, 2004, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 96-90 in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at Staples Center.
Reserve guard Kareem Rush delivered a career night, scoring 18 points and hitting 6-of-7 from three-point range. His shooting spree broke open a tight contest that saw Minnesota erase an early 13-point deficit and carry a 68-67 lead into the fourth quarter.
Shaquille O’Neal paced Los Angeles with 25 points and 11 rebounds despite a 7-for-20 showing at the free-throw line. Kobe Bryant added 20 points, while Karl Malone contributed 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Timberwolves, playing without injured All-Star guard Sam Cassell, were led by Latrell Sprewell’s 27 points, including an 11-for-11 mark at the stripe. Kevin Garnett finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds, and Wally Szczerbiak chipped in 13 off the bench.
The victory followed a season in which Los Angeles went 56-26 after adding veterans Malone and Gary Payton to a roster headlined by Bryant and O’Neal. In the playoffs, the Lakers beat the Houston Rockets in five games, rallied from an 0-2 hole to eliminate the San Antonio Spurs—highlighted by Derek Fisher’s memorable 0.4-second game-winner—and took a 3-1 lead over Minnesota before closing out the series at home.
Source: LakersNation.com
