TDOS: Top 13 Playoff Games and Moments - Game 3

[Purple Reign]

TDOS: Top 13 Playoff Games and Moments - #3

3. Sacramento 92, Los Angeles 91
Game 5, 2002 Western Conference Finals
May 28, 2002
Arco Arena, Sacramento

The greatest win ever of the Sacramento Kings franchise. The Kings did what I thought was the improbable, and get off of the mat, after a devestating Game 4 loss just 48 hours earlier.

Mike Bibby’s jump shot from the wing with 3 seconds left, propelled the Kings to their third victory of one of the greatest post season series in NBA History. Chris Webber led the way with 29 points and 13 rebounds. This game also had it’s share of controversy. The play before Bibby’s game winning shot was a Webber fumble of the ball out of bound. The officials determined that the ball went off of a Laker player, but replay clearly shows the ball went off of Webber. Bibby’s shot came on a questionable screen by Webber on Derek Fisher, which freed up Bibby to put the Kings up for good. Kobe Bryant’s last shot at the buzzer was no good and the Kings were one game away from their first NBA Finals appearance.

What I remember in this being the only other playoff game I saw in person was how loud Arco was when Bibby hit that shot. I was sitting behind a die hard Laker fan who was a co worker, and was obnoxious all game long, and I thought I was going to knock his a** down from the second deck onto the court, HE WAS THAT BAD. But when Bryant missed the game winning shot and the clock hit 0:00 it was at the time the best sports moment I had ever experienced. I was sure WE were on our way to the NBA Finals.

 

[JJ22L]

reading that gave me an adrenaline rush along with the chills....damn that was a good time to be a fan, until games 6 and 7 happened

 

[Yoda]

Its going to be tough to beat this game...This would have been my number 1.
1. Furthest ever in the playoffs
2. Dramatic win
3. Beat that evil team
4. Defensive stand
5. Underdogs

 

[Sac.Kings]

Its going to be tough to beat this game...This would have been my number 1.
1. Furthest ever in the playoffs
2. Dramatic win
3. Beat that evil team
4. Defensive stand
5. Underdogs

Thats what i would have thought as well, but guess not.

 

[Amanjoy]

Its going to be tough to beat this game...This would have been my number 1.
1. Furthest ever in the playoffs
2. Dramatic win
3. Beat that evil team
4. Defensive stand
5. Underdogs

THis is far and away the greatest moment in Sacramento Kings history, but as far as the game goes, I don't remember it being that memorable a game. The ending was memorable and truly personafied the series between these two teams. However, until the botched Webber call and the shot by Bibby, and the Bryant miss at the buzzer, I truly can't remember anything else about that game except for me throwing popcorn at a Lakers fan standing in front of the my view from the front row in section 219.

In my opinion, until the Kings win a championship, this will always and forever be the greatest moment in Kings history, as far as most memorable game from quarters 1-4, I'd still have to say that Game 3 of the DAllas/KIngs series was better. The Kings jump out to the early lead, The Mavs come back and make it 64-61 at halftime which was more points than the final score of the Detroit/Boston game that was on TNT earlier than night. In teh 2nd half it was back and forth and DC went down with an ankle injury and the memorable image of him being carried to the locker room by two teammates was an image that looked like it would haunt KIngs fans for the rest of the playoffs because our Kobe-stopper was gone! Then the Willis Reed-like image of him hobbling back out there to help his team became an image that still chokes me up. His two big three-pointers in the 4th qtr were daggers in the heart of the Dallas Mavericks. A courageous performance from a man with the heart of a champion.

Game 3 of the 2002 Western Conference Semis maybe wouldn't be the most popular choice for greatest playoff game, but it definitely is in my opinion the greatest overall playoff GAME I've ever watched as in my 22 years as a fans of the Sacramento Kings!

The Bibby shot IS and always will be the greatest MOMENT in KIngs history!

 

[Ryle]

Webber's pick was not illegal and though he may have been moving you see this all the time in the playoffs and they never call it.....see Karl Malone and the Utah Jazz for a prime example.

Kobe was also mugged by Bobby on that last shot and from my angle in my seats it really looked like his shot was going in. It was a great game though.