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Kobe's
Two Free Throws Prove to be the Difference
Sun, May 09, 1999
INGLEWOOD (Sunday, May 09, 1999) - Kobe
Bryant's two free throws with :05.3 to go in the
game proved to be the difference Sunday
afternoon, as the Los Angeles Lakers won Game 1 of their
best-of-5 series with the Houston Rockets, 101-100.
Bryant, who was hampered by foul trouble most of the
second half, scored 17 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and 5
assists for the Lakers, and came up big when his team
needed him most.
Bryant's two free throws and two free throws from Derek
Fisher gave LA a 98-97 lead with 1:20 to go in the game,
but Hakeem Olajuwon, who had 22 points, converted a
three-point play to make it 100-98 Houston.
Shaquille O'Neal made one of two free throws to cut it to
one, and then Fisher made the play of the game, diving on
a loose ball and calling time out with :07.6 to go in the
game.
LA set up an out of bounds play for Bryant, who drove and
drew a foul with :05.3 to go. He made both free throws to
give the Lakers the lead at 101-100, but Houston called
time out and set up one last play.
Cuttino Mobley got the ball near midcourt and found O'Neal
on him. Sensing a mismatch speed-wise, Mobley blew by
O'Neal as the clock wound down, but when Mobley tried to
lay it up, O'Neal swatted the ball away as the buzzer
sounded.
It was a big win for the Lakers, who got 29 points from
Glen Rice and 27 points, 11 rebounds from O'Neal. Fisher
added 20.
Game 2 is Tuesday night at the Great Western Forum. |
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