After sweeping the Portland Trail Blazers (3-0), Sacramento Kings (4-0), and San Antonio Spurs (4-0), the Los Angeles Lakers were stunned by the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals. Despite Shaquille O’Neal’s 44 points and 20 rebounds, league MVP Allen Iverson’s 48 points led the 76ers to a 107-101 overtime win.
With Los Angeles losing home-court advantage and in unfamiliar position during their historic playoff run, most anticipated a dominant performance to even up the series before the Finals returned to Philadelphia for the first time since 1983.
In Game 2, the Lakers found themselves in another highly-contested matchup as they only held a 49-47 lead at halftime.