We looked back at the Lakers-Blazers battles of the past and present you with the Top 5 games.
5: Kobe Bryant Scores 65 points Against Portland- March 2007
Kobe Bryant is known for his offensive outburst and the Blazers were one the receiving end of one of them in March of 2007. The Lakers were still in the rebuilding stage at this point, and Kobe Bryant was still the only true star on the team. Most of the scoring load fell on his shoulders and he had to carry the Lakers in this game.
Bryant ended up with 65 points, with 24 of them coming in the fourth quarter and nine in overtimes. Kobe shot 23-for-39 from the field, 8-for-12 from three-point arc and 11-for-12 from the free-throw line.
The Lakers ended up winning the game 116-111 in an overtime thriller at Staples Center.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpWAyV-S7P0
Next Page: Number Four
4: Lakers-Blazers Game 6 Thriller- May 1991
The Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers playoff battles date back to the 1990s and even Magic Johnson got involved in the rivalry. In 1991, the Blazers were expected to return the NBA Finals once again, but the Lakers prevented that with an impressive 1991 Western Conference Finals performance.
The Lakers beat the Blazers in six games, but it was not easy. In the final game, the Blazers fought with all their might, but the Lakers ended up edging them out, 91-90. Johnson and Sam Perkins led the Lakers with 25 and 26 points, respectively, but the Lakers went on to lose the 1991 NBA Finals to the Chicago Bulls.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbfEig4bZS0
Next Page: Number Three
3: Robert Horry Leads Lakers Past Blazers in 2002 Playoffs
Robert Horry is known for being one of the most clutch players in NBA history and that was on display in the 2002 Western Conference Semi-Finals. The Lakers were on the verge of sweeping the Trail Blazers in three games (back then it was just a best of five series) in Portland, and thanks to the heroics of Horry in the fourth quarter, the Lakers did just that.
Beginning at the 5:50 mark of the video below, Horry puts the Lakers up two points thanks to his corner three and makes another vital play on the defensive end. In the very next series, Horry makes another game winning play against the Kings en route to an NBA championship.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fe9KqCIJ5A
Next Page: Number Two
2: Kobe Bryant Hits Two Vital Threes in Fourth Quarter and Overtime
It doesn’t really get any better than this.
Kobe Bryant is another player known for his late-game heroics and he came up clutch for the Lakers in a game at the Rose Garden. The Lakers were on the verge of defeat in the fourth quarter, but thanks to an amazing three by Kobe, Los Angeles managed to send the game into overtime.
In the extra period, the Lakers were once again facing a deficit, and with only one second left to play, things were looking bad. Words cannot do justice in describing what transpired at the arena, so here is the video of the incredible threes by Kobe.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fe9KqCIJ5A
Next Page: Number One
1: Lakers-Blazers Game 7 2000 Western Conference Finals
The Lakers were facing a 15 point deficit in the fourth quarter of the 2000 Western Conference Finals and all signs pointed to a disappointing loss. Los Angeles played it’s first season under coach Phil Jackson and after going 67-15 in the regular season, the Lakers were the favorites to win the NBA championship.
The Lakers were on the brink of being eliminated, but behind the support of the Staples Center crowd, Los Angeles went on a 15-0 run. In one of the most iconic plays in Lakers history, Kobe Bryant threw an alley-oop to Shaquille O’Neal to complete the comeback and bring the Lakers to the NBA Finals.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fe9KqCIJ5A