On June 12, 2002, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New Jersey Nets 113-107 at Continental Airlines Arena, securing their third consecutive NBA championship and completing a 4-0 sweep in the Finals.
The Nets opened Game 4 with a seven-point advantage, but Los Angeles erased the gap in the second quarter, carried a one-point lead into halftime, and limited New Jersey to 23 points in the third period. A steady fourth-quarter effort sealed the victory and the franchise’s 14th title.
Shaquille O’Neal led the way with 34 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 12-for-20 from the field in 43 minutes. The center’s performance earned him his third straight NBA Finals MVP award after averaging 36.3 points, 12.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists over the series.
O’Neal’s 145 total points set an NBA record for a four-game Finals, surpassing Hakeem Olajuwon’s previous mark of 131 set in 1995 against O’Neal’s Orlando Magic.
The championship also gave head coach Phil Jackson his ninth ring, tying Red Auerbach for the most by a coach at the time. The 2000-02 Lakers remain the league’s most recent team to achieve a three-peat; the Golden State Warriors’ attempt ended with a loss to the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
Source: Lakers Nation
