On June 15, 2001, the Los Angeles Lakers capped a dominant postseason by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers, 108-96, at Staples Center to win the NBA Finals in five games. The victory delivered the franchise’s 13th championship and its second in as many seasons.
Los Angeles entered the series unbeaten after sweeping the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, and San Antonio Spurs. Philadelphia halted that perfect run with a Game 1 upset, but the Lakers responded with four straight wins to claim the crown.
O’Neal Earns Second Straight Finals MVP
Shaquille O’Neal led all scorers in the clincher with 29 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. Kobe Bryant added 26 points and 12 boards, while Rick Fox and Derek Fisher contributed 20 and 18 points, respectively. O’Neal’s performance throughout the series earned him Finals MVP honors for the second consecutive year.
Decisive Third-Quarter Surge
Philadelphia trailed just 52-48 at halftime, but Los Angeles outscored the visitors 31-20 in the third quarter to seize control. The Lakers never relinquished the lead, holding Allen Iverson, Dikembe Mutombo, and the 76ers at bay until the final buzzer.
The win cemented one of the most dominant playoff runs in league history, with Los Angeles finishing 15-1 overall.
Source: lakersnation.com
