Shaquille O’Neal’s 46 Points Lift Lakers Past Mavericks, Cap Franchise-Best 16-1 Opening Run
shaquille-oneal-46-points-lift-lakers-past-mavericks-cap-franchise-best-16-1-opening-run
The Los Angeles Lakers set a new standard for fast starts on December 5, 2001, edging the Dallas Mavericks 98-94 to move to 16-1, the best 17-game opening in team history.
Dallas controlled the first half and carried a 55-48 advantage into the break. Los Angeles faced additional hurdles when Kobe Bryant played through flu-like symptoms and forward Devean George left early with a back injury.
With the roster thinned, the Lakers turned to Shaquille O’Neal, who delivered a season-high 46 points while repeatedly overpowering 7-foot-6 center Shawn Bradley. O’Neal ignited a third-quarter rally that trimmed the deficit to four, setting the stage for a decisive final period.
Phil Jackson’s club held the Mavericks to just 15 points in the fourth quarter. A late surge knotted the score at 92 with under a minute to play, and Rick Fox sank four free throws in the closing seconds to secure the victory.
After the game, O’Neal credited his performance to a comment from Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who had urged officials to monitor the center’s footwork at the free-throw line. “That gave me all the motivation I needed,” O’Neal told reporters.
The win kept Los Angeles on course for its pursuit of a third consecutive NBA championship, powered by the dominant inside-outside duo of O’Neal and Bryant.
Source: Lakers Nation
