After the timeout, the ball went to Sabonis.
He held it in the high post, with O'Neal guarding him. Sabonis didn't shoot. He passed to Sprewell as he cut to the basket.
Sprewell caught the pass and went up for a layup. The ball rolled around the rim twice, then bounced out.
O'Neal grabbed the rebound. Lakers ball.
A collective groan rose from the Knicks bench. Sprewell punched the basket support and swore.
The Lakers called a timeout. Eighteen seconds remained, and they led by two.
After the timeout, Fisher inbounded to Kobe.
Sprewell stayed tight on him. Kobe didn't force a shot; he passed to O'Neal. O'Neal caught the ball, Sabonis fouled him, and O'Neal went to the free-throw line.
The first free throw went in.
93–90. The second missed. Sabonis grabbed the rebound and called a timeout.
Twelve seconds remained. The Knicks trailed by three.
Van Gundy drew up a play—Jackson would receive the ball at the top of the arc, Sprewell and Houston would space out on either side, and Sabonis would set a screen in the high post.
Jackson caught the ball, took one dribble, stopped short, and launched a three. The ball spun through the air on a towering arc, so high it looked as though it might pierce the ceiling.
Then it fell—struck the front rim and bounced up. O'Neal grabbed the rebound as the final buzzer sounded.
93–90. The Lakers had won.
The entire Staples Center erupted.
Twenty thousand people leaped to their feet at once. Applause, cheers, and shouts merged into a torrent that echoed beneath the dome. Some cried, some laughed, and some simply stood there, mouths open, unable to make a sound.
Kobe stood on the court with his hands on his hips, tilting his head back to watch the