10.20.2009

Great Moments in Lakers' History

January 19, 1997

Grant Hill had 34 points, 15 rebounds and 14 assists, capped by six points and three assists in the second overtime, as the Detroit Pistons staged an unlikely comeback and beat the Lakers, 100-97, Saturday night before 17,505 at the Forum.

The Pistons were in such trouble near the end of regulation that they were fouling intentionally, trailing by five points with 24.1 seconds to play. The Lakers had an 80-77 lead and the ball with 16.6 seconds to play. But Robert Horry, unable to get the ball inbounds and a five-second violation call drawing near, threw it in too high for Eddie Jones. So it went on a night when Horry made only one of nine shots, and missed all six three-point attempts.

The Pistons took a timeout. And after the Lakers knocked the ball out of bounds, the Pistons called a 20-second timeout with 2.2 seconds remaining, got the ball to Hill on the right side, in position for him to take a single dribble toward the center to create some breathing room from defender Horry and then banked in a three-pointer at the buzzer.

2 comments:

FLCeltsFan said...

Isn't using the words great and Lakers in the same sentence an oxymoron? (With emphasis on the Lakers/moron part)

Lex said...

Maybe memorable or noteworthy (from the perspective of a celtics' fan of course!).