One way or another, it was going to be one of the craziest comebacks in NBA history.
After falling behind 3-1 in the 2000 Western Conference Finals, Portland had rallied to force Game 7, which it led by 15 with only 10:28 remaining.
The Lakers — who hadn’t lost three straight games all season — were suddenly on the brink of becoming just the then-seventh team in NBA history to blow a 3-1 series lead.
The Trail Blazers had done an excellent job of denying the ball to regular-season MVP Shaquille O’Neal and instantly double-teaming him when he did catch it.