Kobe Bryant’s Near Triple-Double Clears Path for Kareem Rush’s Buzzer-Beating Three on Feb. 25, 2004
kobe-bryant-near-triple-double-sets-up-kareem-rush-game-winner
On February 25, 2004, the Los Angeles Lakers escaped Denver with a 97-94 victory after reserve guard Kareem Rush buried a three-pointer with 0.2 seconds left, finishing a play set in motion by Kobe Bryant’s late-game orchestration.
Bryant, double-teamed on the final possession, found rookie Luke Walton, who swung the ball to a waiting Rush on the left wing. The second-year guard drilled the open look, delivering an unexpected dagger on a roster featuring Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Gary Payton.
Stat lines from the night
Kobe Bryant: 35 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds
Kareem Rush: 8 points (3-for-5 FG) in 15 minutes
Shaquille O’Neal: 16 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks
Gary Payton: 14 points, 8 assists
Luke Walton: 2 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals
Denver rookie Carmelo Anthony matched Bryant shot for shot, scoring 35 points on 14-of-25 shooting while adding four rebounds and a block, but the Nuggets fell short after surrendering the decisive possession.
Rush’s clutch basket capped Bryant’s near triple-double and preserved a win that kept Los Angeles on pace in the Western Conference race during a season loaded with championship expectations.
Source: LakersNation
