The 2000âÂÂ01 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 53rd season for the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association, and their 41st season in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers entered the regular season as the defending NBA champions, having defeated the Indiana Pacers in the 2000 NBA Finals in six games, winning their twelfth NBA championship. During the off-season, the Lakers acquired Horace Grant from the Seattle SuperSonics; Grant won three NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls in the early 1990s. The team also signed free agent Isaiah Rider, who was released by the Atlanta Hawks during the previous season due to off-the-court troubles, and signed Greg Foster, who had two NBA Finals appearances with the Utah Jazz.
Derek Fisher only played just 20 games due to a stress fracture in his right foot, which forced him to miss the first 62 games of the regular season. Without Fisher, the Lakers got off to a 3âÂÂ3 start to the season, but then won eight of their next nine games, and later on held a 31âÂÂ16 record at the All-Star break. Fisher eventually returned as the team won their final eight games of the season, and won the Pacific Division title by finishing with a 56âÂÂ26 record, earning the second seed in the Western Conference, and qualifying for the NBA playoffs for the seventh consecutive year.
Shaquille O'Neal averaged 28.7 points, 12.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, while Kobe Bryant averaged 28.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team. In addition, Fisher provided the team with 11.5 points, 4.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game, while Rick Fox contributed 9.6 points per game, and led the Lakers with 118 three-point field goals, and Grant provided with 8.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Rider contributed 7.6 points per game off the bench, while Ron Harper averaged 6.5 points per game, but only played just 47 games due to knee injuries, Brian Shaw contributed 5.3 points per game, and Robert Horry provided with 5.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
During the NBA All-Star weekend at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C., O'Neal and Bryant were both selected for the 2001 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Western Conference All-Star team, although O'Neal did not participate due to a foot injury. Both O'Neal and Bryant were also selected to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, as O'Neal finished in third place in Most Valuable Player voting with 7 first-place votes, while Bryant finished in ninth place.
In the Western Conference First Round of the 2001 NBA playoffs, and for the second consecutive year, the Lakers faced off against the 7thâÂÂseeded Portland Trail Blazers, a team that featured All-Star forward Rasheed Wallace, Steve Smith and Scottie Pippen. The Lakers won the first two games over the Trail Blazers at home at the Staples Center, before winning Game 3 on the road, 99âÂÂ86 at the Rose Garden Arena to win the series in a three-game sweep.
In the Western Conference Semi-finals, and also for the second consecutive year, the team faced off against the 3rdâÂÂseeded Sacramento Kings, who were led by All-Star forward Chris Webber, Peja StojakoviÃÂ, and All-Star and former Lakers center, Vlade Divac. The Lakers won the first two games over the Kings at the Staples Center, and then won the next two games on the road, including a Game 4 win over the Kings at the ARCO Arena II, 119âÂÂ113 to win the series in a four-game sweep.
In the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers then faced off against the topâÂÂseeded, and Midwest Division champion San Antonio Spurs, who were led by All-Star forward Tim Duncan, All-Star center David Robinson, and Derek Anderson. Despite the Spurs having home-court advantage in the series, the Lakers won the first two games on the road at the Alamodome, and took a 2âÂÂ0 series lead. In Game 3, the Lakers defeated the Spurs by a 39-point margin at home, 111âÂÂ72 at the Staples Center, and then won Game 4 at home, 111âÂÂ82 to win the series in another four-game sweep, and advance to the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year.
In the 2001 NBA Finals, the Lakers faced off against the topâÂÂseeded Philadelphia 76ers, who were led by All-Star guard, and Most Valuable Player of the Year, Allen Iverson, All-Star center and Defensive Player of the Year, Dikembe Mutombo, and Sixth Man of the Year, Aaron McKie. The Lakers lost Game 1 to the 76ers at home in overtime, 107âÂÂ101 at the Staples Center, in which Iverson scored 48 points along with 5 steals. However, the Lakers managed to win Game 2 at home, 98âÂÂ89 to even the series, and then won the next three games on the road, including a Game 5 win over the 76ers at the First Union Center, 108âÂÂ96 to win the series in five games; the Lakers won their second consecutive NBA championship, earning the franchise its 13th championship overall, as O'Neal was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player for the second straight year. It was the second of the Lakers' three-peat championships to begin the millennium.
The Lakers finished eighth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 776,336 at the Staples Center during the regular season. The team also finished with the then-best postseason record in NBA history, posting a 15âÂÂ1 record, suffering their only loss in Game 1 of the NBA Finals to the 76ers; that record would last for 16 years until the Golden State Warriors went 16âÂÂ1 in the 2017 NBA playoffs.
Following the season, Grant re-signed as a free agent with his former team, the Orlando Magic, while Rider signed with the Denver Nuggets, Tyronn Lue signed with the Washington Wizards, Foster was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, and Harper retired.
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 1 | October 11 | Charlotte | L 90-103 | Kobe Bryant (19) | Shaquille O'Neal (9) | Tyronn Lue (5) | Lakefront Arena (New Orleans, LA)<br>16,994 | 0âÂÂ1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 2 | October 12 | Washington | L 87-90 | Kobe Bryant (19) | Shaquille O'Neal (6) | Shawn Respert (4) | Pyramid Arena (Memphis, TN)<br>16,529 | 0âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 3 | October 17 | Phoenix | L 78-86 | Shaquille O'Neal (28) | Kobe Bryant (10) | Isaiah Rider (4) | Arrowhead Pond (Anaheim, CA)<br>16,512 | 0âÂÂ3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 4 | October 19 | Cleveland | L 84-91 | Kobe Bryant (18) | Shaquille O'Neal (8) | Shaquille O'Neal (4) | Staples Center<br>15,717 | 0âÂÂ4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 5 | October 20 | Seattle | W 103-98 | Kobe Bryant (22) | Shaquille O'Neal (19) | Fox & Rider (4) | Staples Center<br>15,570 | 1âÂÂ4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 6 | October 22 | Golden State | W 94-87 | Kobe Bryant (25) | Shaquille O'Neal (10) | Kobe Bryant (5) | San Diego Sports Arena (San Diego, CA)<br>13,252 | 2âÂÂ4 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 7 | October 23 | Sacramento | L 111-118 | Kobe Bryant (29) | Shaquille O'Neal (10) | Ron Harper (4) | Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, NV)<br>17,561 | 2âÂÂ5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 8 | October 26 | @ Phoenix | W 98-84 | Kobe Bryant (22) | Horace Grant (11) | Rick Fox (7) | American West Arena<br>17,308 | 3âÂÂ5
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | October 31 | @ Portland | | Shaquille O'Neal (36) | Shaquille O'Neal (11) | Ron Harper (6) | Rose Garden<br>20,270 | 1âÂÂ0
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 2 | November 1 | Utah | | Shaquille O'Neal (34) | Shaquille O'Neal (15) | Isaiah Rider (6) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 1âÂÂ1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 3 | November 4 | @ Vancouver | | Shaquille O'Neal (27) | Shaquille O'Neal (15) | 3 players tied (5) | General Motors Place<br>18,183 | 2âÂÂ1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 4 | November 5 | L.A. Clippers | | Shaquille O'Neal (39) | Shaquille O'Neal (14) | Kobe Bryant (6) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 3âÂÂ1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 5 | November 7 | @ Houston | | Shaquille O'Neal (24) | Shaquille O'Neal (7) | Shaquille O'Neal (5) | Compaq Center<br>14,473 | 3âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 6 | November 8 | @ San Antonio | | Kobe Bryant (32) | Shaquille O'Neal (17) | Kobe Bryant (8) | Alamodome<br>26,065 | 3âÂÂ3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 7 | November 12 | Houston | | Kobe Bryant (37) | Kobe Bryant (10) | Brian Shaw (4) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 4âÂÂ3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 8 | November 14 | Denver | | Shaquille O'Neal (34) | Shaquille O'Neal (19) | Kobe Bryant (9) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 5âÂÂ3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 9 | November 16 | @ Sacramento | | Shaquille O'Neal (33) | Shaquille O'Neal (16) | Brian Shaw (9) | ARCO Arena<br>17,317 | 6âÂÂ3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 10 | November 18 | @ Denver | | Kobe Bryant (32) | Horace Grant (12) | 4 players tied (4) | Pepsi Center<br>19,513 | 6âÂÂ4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 11 | November 19 | Chicago | | Kobe Bryant (22) | Kobe Bryant (12) | Brian Shaw (7) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 7âÂÂ4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 12 | November 22 | Golden State | | Kobe Bryant (31) | Shaquille O'Neal (14) | Kobe Bryant (7) | Staples Center<br>18,208 | 8âÂÂ4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 13 | November 24 | Minnesota | | Kobe Bryant (29) | Shaquille O'Neal (16) | Bryant & O'Neal (5) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 9âÂÂ4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 14 | November 27 | @ L.A. Clippers | | Kobe Bryant (29) | 3 players tied (7) | Rick Fox (5) | Staples Center<br>20,039 | 10âÂÂ4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 15 | November 28 | Indiana | | Kobe Bryant (37) | Shaquille O'Neal (14) | Fox & O'Neal (6) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 11âÂÂ4 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 16 | November 30 | @ Seattle | | Shaquille O'Neal (23) | Horace Grant (9) | Rick Fox (5) | KeyArena<br>17,072 | 11âÂÂ5
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 17 | December 1 | San Antonio | | Kobe Bryant (43) | Shaquille O'Neal (16) | Bryant & Shaw (6) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 12âÂÂ5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 18 | December 3 | Dallas | | Kobe Bryant (38) | Shaquille O'Neal (14) | Kobe Bryant (6) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 13âÂÂ5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 19 | December 5 | Philadelphia | | Kobe Bryant (36) | Shaquille O'Neal (20) | Shaquille O'Neal (6) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 14âÂÂ5 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 20 | December 6 | @ Golden State | | Kobe Bryant (51) | Harper & O'Neal (10) | Ron Harper (10) | The Arena in Oakland<br>19,273 | 14âÂÂ6 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 21 | December 8 | Seattle | | Shaquille O'Neal (26) | Shaquille O'Neal (17) | Grant & O'Neal (5) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 14âÂÂ7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 22 | December 10 | Detroit | | Bryant & O'Neal (26) | Shaquille O'Neal (12) | Bryant & Fox (9) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 15âÂÂ7 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 23 | December 12 | Milwaukee | | Shaquille O'Neal (26) | Shaquille O'Neal (17) | Bryant & O'Neal (6) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 15âÂÂ8 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 24 | December 13 | @ Portland | | Kobe Bryant (35) | Shaquille O'Neal (13) | Kobe Bryant (6) | Rose Garden<br>20,491 | 15âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 25 | December 15 | Vancouver | | Horace Grant (19) | Horace Grant (13) | Grant & Harper (5) | Staples Center<br>18,211 | 16âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 26 | December 17 | @ Toronto | | Kobe Bryant (40) | Shaquille O'Neal (8) | Rick Fox (5) | Air Canada Centre<br>19,800 | 17âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 27 | December 19 | @ Miami | | Kobe Bryant (23) | Shaquille O'Neal (14) | Kobe Bryant (6) | American Airlines Arena<br>19,600 | 18âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 28 | December 21 | @ Houston | | Kobe Bryant (45) | Shaquille O'Neal (12) | Brian Shaw (7) | Compaq Center<br>16,285 | 19âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 29 | December 22 | @ Dallas | | Kobe Bryant (35) | Rick Fox (12) | Isaiah Rider (5) | Reunion Arena<br>18,201 | 20âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 30 | December 25 | Portland | | Shaquille O'Neal (32) | Shaquille O'Neal (15) | Kobe Bryant (6) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 20âÂÂ10 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 31 | December 28 | @ Phoenix | | Kobe Bryant (38) | Shaquille O'Neal (11) | Shaquille O'Neal (4) | America West Arena<br>19,023 | 21âÂÂ10 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 32 | December 30 | @ L.A. Clippers | | Shaquille O'Neal (29) | Shaquille O'Neal (15) | Rick Fox (9) | Staples Center<br>20,327 | 22âÂÂ10
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 33 | January 3 | Utah | | Kobe Bryant (31) | Shaquille O'Neal (17) | Bryant & Fox (4) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 23âÂÂ10 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 34 | January 7 | L.A. Clippers | | Shaquille O'Neal (33) | Horace Grant (10) | Shaquille O'Neal (5) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 23âÂÂ11 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 35 | January 12 | Cleveland | | Shaquille O'Neal (34) | Shaquille O'Neal (23) | Bryant & Shaw (5) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 24âÂÂ11 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 36 | January 13 | @ Utah | | Shaquille O'Neal (30) | Shaquille O'Neal (12) | Harper & O'Neal (5) | Delta Center<br>19,911 | 24âÂÂ12 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 37 | January 15 | Vancouver | | Shaquille O'Neal (31) | Shaquille O'Neal (15) | Kobe Bryant (11) | Staples Center<br>18,318 | 25âÂÂ12 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 38 | January 19 | Houston | | Shaquille O'Neal (41) | Shaquille O'Neal (11) | Brian Shaw (5) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 26âÂÂ12 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 39 | January 21 | Miami | | Kobe Bryant (34) | Bryant & O'Neal (8) | Shaquille O'Neal (3) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 26âÂÂ13 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 40 | January 23 | @ Seattle | | Shaquille O'Neal (29) | Shaquille O'Neal (9) | Kobe Bryant (5) | KeyArena<br>17,072 | 26âÂÂ14 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 41 | January 26 | New Jersey | | Bryant & O'Neal (26) | Bryant & O'Neal (9) | Shaquille O'Neal (8) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 27âÂÂ14 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 42 | January 28 | @ New York | | Kobe Bryant (33) | Bryant & Horry (11) | Tyronn Lue (4) | Madison Square Garden<br>19,763 | 27âÂÂ15 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 43 | January 30 | @ Cleveland | | Kobe Bryant (47) | Horace Grant (14) | Bryant & Harper (3) | Gund Arena<br>20,253 | 28âÂÂ15 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 44 | January 31 | @ Minnesota | | Kobe Bryant (24) | Kobe Bryant (9) | Bryant & Horry (5) | Target Center<br>19,006 | 28âÂÂ16
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 45 | February 2 | Charlotte | | Kobe Bryant (44) | Kobe Bryant (9) | Brian Shaw (4) | Staples Center<br>18,710 | 29âÂÂ16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 46 | February 4 | Sacramento | | Kobe Bryant (26) | Kobe Bryant (11) | Fox & Grant (5) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 30âÂÂ16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 47 | February 7 | Phoenix | | Kobe Bryant (32) | Kobe Bryant (8) | Kobe Bryant (9) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 31âÂÂ16 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- style="background:#cfc;" | 48 | February 13 | @ New Jersey | | Kobe Bryant (38) | Shaquille O'Neal (14) | Fox & O'Neal (6) | Continental Airlines Arena<br>20,049 | 32âÂÂ16 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 49 | February 14 | @ Philadelphia | | Shaquille O'Neal (29) | Shaquille O'Neal (11) | Kobe Bryant (7) | First Union Center<br>21,005 | 32âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 50 | February 16 | @ Charlotte | | Shaquille O'Neal (38) | Shaquille O'Neal (12) | Kobe Bryant (10) | Charlotte Coliseum<br>19,925 | 33âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 51 | February 18 | @ Indiana | | Shaquille O'Neal (35) | Shaquille O'Neal (15) | Kobe Bryant (9) | Conseco Fieldhouse<br>18,345 | 33âÂÂ18 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 52 | February 20 | @ Dallas | | Shaquille O'Neal (29) | Horace Grant (12) | Kobe Bryant (7) | Reunion Arena<br>18,287 | 34âÂÂ18 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 53 | February 21 | @ San Antonio | | Shaquille O'Neal (22) | Shaquille O'Neal (10) | Shaquille O'Neal (7) | Alamodome<br>29,849 | 35âÂÂ18 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 54 | February 23 | Atlanta | | Shaquille O'Neal (30) | Horry & O'Neal (8) | Fox & O'Neal (8) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 36âÂÂ18 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 55 | February 25 | Orlando | | Shaquille O'Neal (37) | Shaquille O'Neal (19) | Shaquille O'Neal (6) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 37âÂÂ18 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 56 | February 28 | @ Denver | | Kobe Bryant (38) | Shaquille O'Neal (11) | Rick Fox (8) | Pepsi Center<br>19,566 | 37âÂÂ19
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 57 | March 3 | @ Vancouver | | Shaquille O'Neal (34) | Horace Grant (15) | Brian Shaw (9) | General Motors Place<br>19,193 | 38âÂÂ19 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 58 | March 4 | Golden State | | Shaquille O'Neal (26) | Shaquille O'Neal (15) | Kobe Bryant (5) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 39âÂÂ19 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 59 | March 6 | @ Golden State | | Kobe Bryant (29) | Shaquille O'Neal (17) | Brian Shaw (9) | The Arena in Oakland<br>20,181 | 40âÂÂ19 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 60 | March 7 | Toronto | | Kobe Bryant (29) | 3 players tied (10) | Bryant & Shaw (5) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 41âÂÂ19 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 61 | March 9 | San Antonio | | Kobe Bryant (38) | Shaquille O'Neal (16) | 4 players tied (2) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 41âÂÂ20 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 62 | March 11 | Seattle | | Shaquille O'Neal (29) | Brian Shaw (10) | Brian Shaw (7) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 41âÂÂ21 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 63 | March 13 | Boston | | Shaquille O'Neal (28) | Brian Shaw (12) | Derek Fisher (8) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 42âÂÂ21 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 64 | March 15 | @ Detroit | | Kobe Bryant (39) | Shaquille O'Neal (10) | Kobe Bryant (7) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076 | 43âÂÂ21 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 65 | March 16 | @ Washington | | Kobe Bryant (26) | Robert Horry (9) | Derek Fisher (6) | MCI Center<br>20,674 | 44âÂÂ21 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 66 | March 18 | @ Orlando | | Shaquille O'Neal (33) | Shaquille O'Neal (17) | Kobe Bryant (7) | TD Waterhouse Centre<br>17,248 | 45âÂÂ21 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 67 | March 19 | @ Atlanta | | Bryant & O'Neal (27) | Shaquille O'Neal (13) | Derek Fisher (6) | Philips Arena<br>17,248 | 45âÂÂ22 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 68 | March 21 | @ Milwaukee | | Shaquille O'Neal (36) | Shaquille O'Neal (13) | Kobe Bryant (8) | Bradley Center<br>18,717 | 45âÂÂ23 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 69 | March 23 | Washington | | Shaquille O'Neal (40) | Shaquille O'Neal (17) | Shaquille O'Neal (8) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 46âÂÂ23 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 70 | March 25 | @ Sacramento | | Shaquille O'Neal (23) | Shaquille O'Neal (15) | Fox & Shaw (4) | ARCO Arena<br>17,317 | 47âÂÂ23 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 71 | March 26 | @ Phoenix | | Shaquille O'Neal (27) | Shaquille O'Neal (12) | O'Neal & Shaw (3) | America West Arena<br>19,023 | 47âÂÂ24 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 72 | March 28 | Sacramento | | Shaquille O'Neal (33) | Shaquille O'Neal (11) | Rick Fox (8) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 47âÂÂ25 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 73 | March 30 | Dallas | | Shaquille O'Neal (35) | Shaquille O'Neal (13) | Rick Fox (8) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 48âÂÂ25
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 74 | April 1 | New York | | Shaquille O'Neal (31) | Horace Grant (12) | Rick Fox (4) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 48âÂÂ26 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 75 | April 3 | @ Utah | | Shaquille O'Neal (31) | Shaquille O'Neal (11) | 3 players tied (5) | Delta Center<br>19,911 | 49âÂÂ26 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 76 | April 5 | @ Chicago | | Shaquille O'Neal (39) | Shaquille O'Neal (10) | Derek Fisher (7) | United Center<br>23,217 | 50âÂÂ26 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 77 | April 6 | @ Boston | | Shaquille O'Neal (39) | Shaquille O'Neal (14) | Brian Shaw (9) | FleetCenter<br>18,624 | 51âÂÂ26 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 78 | April 8 | @ Minnesota | | Shaquille O'Neal (34) | Shaquille O'Neal (11) | Brian Shaw (7) | Target Center<br>20,099 | 52âÂÂ26 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 79 | April 10 | Phoenix | | Shaquille O'Neal (32) | Shaquille O'Neal (13) | Brian Shaw (10) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 53âÂÂ26 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 80 | April 12 | Minnesota | | Shaquille O'Neal (31) | Shaquille O'Neal (12) | Kobe Bryant (9) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 54âÂÂ26 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 81 | April 15 | Portland | | Shaquille O'Neal (33) | Shaquille O'Neal (18) | Kobe Bryant (7) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 55âÂÂ26 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 82 | April 17 | Denver | | Shaquille O'Neal (33) | Shaquille O'Neal (13) | Kobe Bryant (5) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 56âÂÂ26
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | April 22 | Portland | | Kobe Bryant (28) | Shaquille O'Neal (20) | Kobe Bryant (7) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 1âÂÂ0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | April 26 | Portland | | Shaquille O'Neal (32) | Shaquille O'Neal (12) | Kobe Bryant (7) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 2âÂÂ0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | April 29 | @ Portland | | Shaquille O'Neal (25) | Shaquille O'Neal (15) | Kobe Bryant (9) | Rose Garden<br>20,580 | 3âÂÂ0
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | May 6 | Sacramento | | Shaquille O'Neal (44) | Shaquille O'Neal (21) | Kobe Bryant (5) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 1âÂÂ0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | May 8 | Sacramento | | Shaquille O'Neal (43) | Shaquille O'Neal (20) | Rick Fox (7) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 2âÂÂ0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | May 11 | @ Sacramento | | Kobe Bryant (36) | Shaquille O'Neal (18) | Brian Shaw (6) | ARCO Arena<br>17,317 | 3âÂÂ0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | May 13 | @ Sacramento | | Kobe Bryant (48) | Kobe Bryant (16) | Brian Shaw (5) | ARCO Arena<br>17,317 | 4âÂÂ0
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | May 19 | @ San Antonio | | Kobe Bryant (45) | Shaquille O'Neal (11) | Horace Grant (6) | Alamodome<br>36,068 | 1âÂÂ0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | May 21 | @ San Antonio | | Kobe Bryant (28) | Shaquille O'Neal (14) | Kobe Bryant (6) | Alamodome<br>35,574 | 2âÂÂ0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | May 25 | San Antonio | | Kobe Bryant (36) | Shaquille O'Neal (17) | Kobe Bryant (8) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 3âÂÂ0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | May 27 | San Antonio | | Derek Fisher (28) | Shaquille O'Neal (10) | Kobe Bryant (11) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 4âÂÂ0
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | June 6 | Philadelphia | | Shaquille O'Neal (44) | Shaquille O'Neal (20) | 3 players tied (5) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 0âÂÂ1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | June 8 | Philadelphia | | Kobe Bryant (31) | Shaquille O'Neal (20) | Shaquille O'Neal (9) | Staples Center<br>18,997 | 1âÂÂ1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | June 10 | @ Philadelphia | | Kobe Bryant (32) | Shaquille O'Neal (12) | 4 players tied (3) | First Union Center<br>20,900 | 2âÂÂ1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | June 13 | @ Philadelphia | | Shaquille O'Neal (34) | Shaquille O'Neal (14) | Kobe Bryant (9) | First Union Center<br>20,896 | 3âÂÂ1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | June 15 | @ Philadelphia | | Shaquille O'Neal (29) | Shaquille O'Neal (13) | Bryant & Fox (6) | First Union Center<br>20,890 | 4âÂÂ1
The following scoring summary is written in a line score format, except that the quarter numbers are replaced by game numbers.
â denotes a game that required overtime.
Player statistics citation: