My Favorite NBA Playoff Moment: Robert Horry Stuns the Kings

Down 2-1 in the 2002 Western Conference Finals, the Lakers were looking for any answers on how to stop the high-octane Sacramento Kings. Down 14 points at halftime, this was not supposed to be the way the Lakers had envisioned a 3-peat. Instead, they were faced with the reality that the new kids in town were about to dethrone the champs.

The Kings had run up 65 first half points, and were looking well on their way to a 3-1 series lead going back to Sacramento, a place where they only lost 5 games during the regular season. The Lakers looked more like a team struggling to hold onto its past glory, and not the favorite to take home another championship. They needed a serious shot in the arm.

Enter Big Shot Rob.

Robert Horry has made famous a career of making big shots and winning lots of rings. He hooked up with Hakeem Olajuwon and won twice in Houston, and already had 2 down in Los Angeles with Shaq and Kobe. Winning was in his blood.

After the Lakers decided that playing defense was their best bet to get back into the game, they limited the Kings to only 15 points in the 3rd quarter to only be down 7 entering the final period. Horry played a big part in chopping the lead even more by hitting a 3-pointer with under 2 minutes left. After 2 free throws by Shaq and 1 by Kings center Vlade Divac, the stage was set for the final possession.

Just over 11 seconds remained in the game, and the Lakers inbounded the ball on the Kings' side of the court to Shaq, who then quickly gave it to Horry, and then on a handoff to Kobe. Guarded closely by Doug Christie, Kobe drove to the lane and put up a floater with 4 seconds remaining that barely drew rim. Shaq rebounded and went for a flat-footed layup, and despite being at point blank range, that inexplicably rimmed out as well. With just over 2 seconds left, Divac slapped the ball out to the perimeter as time was about to expire.

That's where Horry made perhaps the biggest shot of his career.

Staying at the 3-point line after giving the ball to Kobe to start the possession, Horry calmly caught the bouncing ball, loaded up, released, and splashed the game-winning 3. Final score: Lakers 100, Kings 99.

From being down 20 at the end of the 1st quarter to coming all the way back to win, it was a roller coaster of emotions that May afternoon. To see how calm, cool, and collected Horry was as he made the winning trey only furthered his legendary playoff reputation. I can fondly recall that play as if it happened yesterday. Simply unforgettable.

The Kings were able to win Game 5, but the Lakers regrouped to win Game 6 at home and Game 7 in overtime on the road to take the series, 4-3. This series would prove to practically be the NBA Finals, as the Lakers rolled over the New Jersey Nets in a sweep to claim the ultimate prize. Without Horry's shot, that most likely would not have happened.

Horry's place in Laker lore will forever be enshrined.