Throughout the 2000s, the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs reigned supreme over much of the Western Conference. With seven championships between them, there wasn’t much coming in the way of NBA legends Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Tim Duncan.
There were many classic battles between these two historic franchises, with one specific bout occurring on March 31, 2002. The two foes met at Staples Center in the thick of a playoff race.
The 51-21 Lakers stood as the clear favorites in the NBA, eyeing a third straight championship. At the same time, the 49-23 Spurs resembled one of the few legitimate threats to Los Angeles, with a Hall-of-Fame cast.