2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season
NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
Horace Grant battles for a jump ball versus future Laker Pau Gasol in November 2003.The 2003–04 NBA season National Basketball Association and 44th in the city of Los Angeles .[ 1]
The Lakers entered the season following a disappointing second-round loss to the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs in the 2003 playoffs. During the offseason, the Lakers signed star free agents Karl Malone and Gary Payton and re-signed free agent power forward Horace Grant .[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] [ 5]
Despite major acquisitions, key moves, and becoming overnight title favorites, the Lakers would run into major setbacks to begin the season. During the 2003 off-season, superstar guard Kobe Bryant had been accused of sexual assault in Colorado . Media attention surrounding the case would prove to be an ongoing distraction for the team, and Bryant missed games during his trial. In addition, Bryant's feud with Shaquille O'Neal reached a peak during the season, as both players criticized each other in the media.[ 6] Phil Jackson 's triangle offense , and Malone missed significant time due to injuries.[ 7] [ 8] [ 9]
Despite the setbacks, the Lakers finished the season with a 56–26 overall record, good enough to clinch the second seed in the Western Conference en route to the playoffs .[ 10] Houston Rockets , the defending champion San Antonio Spurs , and the Minnesota Timberwolves to earn the franchise its 28th appearance in the NBA Finals . The Lakers entered the Finals against the Detroit Pistons as favorites.[ 11] [ 12] 1988 and 1989 . However, the underdog Pistons' strong defense and teamwork propelled them to their third championship in franchise history, and the star-studded Lakers would collapse in five games.[ 13] [ 14] [ 15] Miami Heat .[ 16]
Draft picks
Roster
2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
G 8
Bryant, Kobe
205 lb (93 kg)
1978-08-23
Lower Merion HS (PA)
C 7
Cook, Brian
234 lb (106 kg)
1980-12-04
Illinois
G 2
Fisher, Derek
210 lb (95 kg)
1974-08-09
Little Rock
F 17
Fox, Rick
230 lb (104 kg)
1969-07-24
North Carolina
F 3
George, Devean
235 lb (107 kg)
1977-08-29
Augsburg
F 54
Grant, Horace
245 lb (111 kg)
1965-07-04
Clemson
F 11
Malone, Karl
250 lb (113 kg)
1963-07-24
Louisiana Tech
F 14
Medvedenko, Slava
253 lb (115 kg)
1979-04-04
Ukraine
C 34
O'Neal, Shaquille
325 lb (147 kg)
1972-03-06
LSU
G 20
Payton, Gary
180 lb (82 kg)
1968-07-23
Oregon State
G 21
Rush, Kareem
200 lb (91 kg)
1980-10-30
Missouri
F 9
Russell, Bryon
225 lb (102 kg)
1970-12-31
Long Beach State
C 31
Sampson, Jamal
235 lb (107 kg)
1983-05-13
California
F 4
Walton, Luke
235 lb (107 kg)
1980-03-28
Arizona
Head coach Assistant coach(es) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) SuspendedRoster
Regular season
Season standings
By division
By conference
Record vs. opponents
2003-04 NBA Records
Team
ATL
BOS
CHI
CLE
DAL
DEN
DET
GSW
HOU
IND
LAC
LAL
MEM
MIA
MIL
MIN
NJN
NOH
NYK
ORL
PHI
PHO
POR
SAC
SAS
SEA
TOR
UTA
WAS
Atlanta
–
3–1
3–1
1–3
2–0
2–0
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–4
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
2–2
1–1
1–3
2–2
0–3
1–3
1–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
0–2
2–2
Boston
1–3
–
1–2
3–1
1–1
2–0
0–3
2–0
1–1
1–3
0–2
0–2
1–1
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–2
0–4
1–3
3–1
3–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–1
1–1
3–1
Chicago
1–3
2–1
–
2–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–1
0–2
1–3
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–3
0–2
0–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
0–4
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
4–0
1–1
1–3
Cleveland
3–1
1–3
2–2
–
0–2
0–2
2–2
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
2–2
0–2
1–2
3–1
4–0
2–1
3–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–3
1–1
2–2
Dallas
0–2
1–1
2–0
2–0
–
2–2
1–1
3–1
3–1
0–2
2–2
2–2
2–2
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
3–1
3–1
3–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
Denver
0–2
0–2
2–0
2–0
2–2
–
0–2
3–1
2–2
0–2
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–1
2–0
1–3
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
4–0
4–0
2–2
1–3
2–2
0–2
3–1
2–0
Detroit
3–1
3–0
4–0
2–2
1–1
2–0
–
1–1
1–1
1–3
2–0
1–1
2–0
4–0
3–1
0–2
2–2
1–3
3–1
3–1
2–2
2–0
2–0
0–2
1–1
1–1
3–1
1–1
3–0
Golden State
2–0
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–3
1–3
1–1
–
2–2
0–2
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–1
2–2
0–2
0–2
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
Houston
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–3
2–2
1–1
2–2
–
1–1
4–0
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–0
2–2
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–3
3–1
0–4
0–4
1–3
1–1
2–2
2–0
Indiana
4–0
3–1
3–1
3–1
2–0
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
–
2–0
1–1
1–1
3–0
1–3
1–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
3–1
4–0
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
4–0
2–0
2–1
L.A. Clippers
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–2
0–2
2–2
0–4
0–2
–
1–3
0–4
0–2
2–0
0–4
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–2
0–4
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–3
0–2
L.A. Lakers
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–2
3–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
1–1
3–1
–
2–2
2–0
2–0
1–3
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–2
1–3
3–1
3–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
Memphis
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–2
0–2
3–1
3–1
1–1
4–0
2–2
–
1–1
1–1
1–3
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
2–0
1–3
2–0
Miami
3–1
2–2
4–0
2–2
1–1
1–1
0–4
1–1
1–1
0–3
2–0
0–2
1–1
–
1–2
0–2
3–2
3–1
1–3
4–0
1–3
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
2–0
2–1
1–1
4–0
Milwaukee
2–2
3–1
3–1
2–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
1–1
0–2
3–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
2–1
–
0–2
3–1
1–3
2–2
3–1
2–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
3–1
1–1
3–1
Minnesota
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
3–1
2–0
2–2
2–2
1–1
4–0
3–1
3–1
2–0
2–0
–
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
4–0
1–3
3–1
2–2
3–1
2–0
2–2
2–0
New Jersey
3–1
2–2
3–0
2–1
0–2
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–3
2–0
0–2
0–2
2–3
1–3
1–1
–
2–1
3–1
4–0
3–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
2–0
2–2
1–1
4–0
New Orleans
2–2
4–0
2–2
1–3
0–2
1–1
3–1
2–0
0–2
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–3
3–1
0–2
1–2
–
1–2
4–0
2–2
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
1–1
3–1
New York
3–0
3–1
2–2
0–4
0–2
1–1
1–3
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–1
2–2
1–1
1–3
2–1
–
3–1
3–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–1
0–2
4–0
Orlando
3–1
1–3
1–3
1–2
0–2
1–1
1–3
1–1
0–2
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–3
0–2
0–4
0–4
1–3
–
2–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–2
1–1
4–0
Philadelphia
2–1
1–3
4–0
1–3
1–1
0–2
2–2
1–1
0–2
0–4
1–1
1–1
0–2
3–1
1–2
1–1
1–3
2–2
1–3
2–2
–
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–0
1–1
1–3
0–2
2–2
Phoenix
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–3
0–4
0–2
2–2
3–1
0–2
1–3
1–3
2–2
1–1
1–1
0–4
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
–
2–2
1–3
0–4
2–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
Portland
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–3
0–4
0–2
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–2
–
3–1
0–4
2–2
1–1
2–2
1–1
Sacramento
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–3
2–2
2–0
2–2
4–0
2–0
4–0
3–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–3
–
2–2
3–1
2–0
3–1
1–1
San Antonio
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–3
3–1
1–1
2–2
4–0
1–1
3–1
1–3
1–3
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
0–2
4–0
4–0
2–2
–
4–0
2–0
4–0
2–0
Seattle
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–3
2–2
1–1
1–3
3–1
0–2
4–0
1–3
3–1
0–2
2–0
1–3
0–2
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–2
1–3
0–4
–
1–1
1–3
1–1
Toronto
3–1
1–3
0–4
3–1
1–1
2–0
1–3
1–1
1–1
0–4
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–2
1–3
0–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
2–1
3–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
–
1–1
1–3
Utah
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–2
2–2
0–2
3–1
1–3
3–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–2
1–3
0–4
3–1
1–1
–
1–1
Washington
2–2
1–3
3–1
2–2
1–1
0–2
0–3
1–1
0–2
1–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–3
0–2
0–4
1–3
0–4
0–4
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–1
1–1
—
Game log
Pre-season
2003 preseason game log
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
1
October 7
Golden State
W 107-89
Shaquille O'Neal (16)
Devean George (7)
Gary Payton (7)
Stan Sheriff Center (Honolulu, HI)1–0
2
October 8
Golden State
L 83-99
Gary Payton (11)
Shaquille O'Neal (8)
Shaquille O'Neal (5)
Stan Sheriff Center (Honolulu, HI)1-1
3
October 14
Phoenix
L 86-104
Derek Fisher (14)
3 players tied (6)
Gary Payton (4)
San Diego Sports Arena (San Diego, CA)1–2
4
October 16
Cleveland
W 86-78
Karl Malone (18)
Karl Malone (13)
Malone & Payton (7)
Staples Center 2-2
5
October 17
Phoenix
W 91-84
Derek Fisher (18)
Eric Chenowith (7)
Luke Walton (4)
Staples Center 3–2
6
October 19
Cleveland
L 87-102
Shaquille O'Neal (20)
Shaquille O'Neal (6)
Luke Walton (5)
Centennial Garden (Bakersfield, CA)3-3
7
October 23
L.A. Clippers
L 101-107
Shaquille O'Neal (18)
Shaquille O'Neal (9)
Gary Payton (7)
Arrowhead Pond (Anaheim, CA)3–4
8
October 24
Sacramento
L 87-93
Shaquille O'Neal (19)
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Malone & O'Neal (5)
Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, NV)3–5
2003–04 season schedule
Regular season
2003–04 game log
October: 1–0 (home: 1–0; road: 0–0)
November: 13–3 (home: 9–0; road: 4–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
2
November 1
@ Phoenix
W 103–99
Shaquille O'Neal (24)
3 players tied (12)
Gary Payton (9)
America West Arena 2–0
3
November 2
Golden State
W 87–72
Kobe Bryant (21)
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Gary Payton (11)
Staples Center 3–0
4
November 4
@ Milwaukee
W 113–107
Kobe Bryant (31)
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Kobe Bryant (8)
Bradley Center 4–0
5
November 6
@ San Antonio
W 120–117 (2OT)
Kobe Bryant (37)
Shaquille O'Neal (20)
O'Neal & Payton (6)
SBC Center 5–0
6
November 7
@ New Orleans
L 95–114
Shaquille O'Neal (21)
Malone & O'Neal (6)
Gary Payton (11)
New Orleans Arena 5–1
7
November 10
@ Memphis
L 95–105
Shaquille O'Neal (20)
Shaquille O'Neal (12)
Kobe Bryant (5)
Pyramid Arena 5–2
8
November 12
Toronto
W 94–79
Shaquille O'Neal (23)
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Gary Payton (6)
Staples Center 6–2
9
November 14
Detroit
W 94–89
O'Neal & Payton (21)
Shaquille O'Neal (15)
Shaquille O'Neal (8)
Staples Center 7–2
10
November 16
Miami
W 99–77
Kobe Bryant (27)
Karl Malone (10)
Gary Payton (8)
Staples Center 8–2
11
November 18
@ Detroit
L 96–106
Malone & O'Neal (20)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
3 players tied (5)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 8–3
12
November 19
@ New York
W 104–83
Shaquille O'Neal (23)
Karl Malone (14)
Bryant & Malone (4)
Madison Square Garden 9–3
13
November 21
Chicago
W 101–94
Kobe Bryant (28)
Karl Malone (18)
Bryant & Payton (4)
Staples Center 10–3
14
November 23
Memphis
W 121–89
Kobe Bryant (28)
Slava Medvedenko (11)
Gary Payton (10)
Staples Center 11–3
15
November 26
Washington
W 120–99
Kobe Bryant (22)
Horace Grant (6)
Malone & Payton (5)
Staples Center 12–3
16
November 28
San Antonio
W 103–87
Devean George (19)
Karl Malone (11)
Karl Malone (10)
Staples Center 13–3
17
November 30
Indiana
W 99–77
Shaquille O'Neal (23)
Karl Malone (15)
Kobe Bryant (7)
Staples Center 14–3
December: 7–4 (home: 5–2; road: 2–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
18
December 3
@ San Antonio
W 90–86
Kobe Bryant (21)
Shaquille O'Neal (16)
Gary Payton (6)
SBC Center 15–3
19
December 4
@ Dallas
W 114–103
Kobe Bryant (32)
Shaquille O'Neal (19)
Gary Payton (8)
American Airlines Center 16–3
20
December 7
Utah
W 94–92
Bryant & O'Neal (19)
Shaquille O'Neal (15)
Shaquille O'Neal (8)
Staples Center 17–3
21
December 9
New York
W 98–90
Kobe Bryant (21)
Shaquille O'Neal (15)
Kobe Bryant (9)
Staples Center 18–3
22
December 12
Dallas
L 93–110
Shaquille O'Neal (25)
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Kobe Bryant (6)
Staples Center 18–4
23
December 13
@ Portland
L 108–112
Kobe Bryant (35)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Kobe Bryant (6)
Rose Garden 18–5
24
December 19
Denver
W 101–99
Shaquille O'Neal (26)
Shaquille O'Neal (11)
Gary Payton (11)
Staples Center 19–5
25
December 21
Phoenix
W 107–101
George & Payton (19)
Shaquille O'Neal (18)
Gary Payton (7)
Staples Center 20–5
26
December 23
@ Golden State
L 98–107
Kobe Bryant (23)
Devean George (9)
Gary Payton (13)
The Arena in Oakland 20–6
27
December 25
Houston
L 87–99
Kobe Bryant (23)
Horace Grant (11)
Gary Payton (7)
Staples Center 20–7
28
December 28
Boston
W 105–82
Shaquille O'Neal (22)
Shaquille O'Neal (16)
Bryant & Payton (6)
Staples Center 21–7
January: 6–9 (home: 5–2; road: 1–7)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
29
January 2
@ Seattle
L 109–111
Kobe Bryant (32)
Bryant & Grant (6)
Kobe Bryant (6)
KeyArena 21–8
30
January 4
@ L.A. Clippers
L 98–101
Kobe Bryant (44)
Kobe Bryant (10)
Payton & Russell (4)
Staples Center 21–9
31
January 6
@ Minnesota
L 90–106
Kobe Bryant (20)
Kobe Bryant (10)
Derek Fisher (5)
Target Center 21–10
32
January 7
@ Denver
L 91–113
Kobe Bryant (27)
Brian Cook (8)
Kobe Bryant (6)
Pepsi Center 21–11
33
January 9
Atlanta
W 113–67
Bryant & Medvedenko (26)
Slava Medvedenko (11)
Gary Payton (7)
Staples Center 22–11
34
January 12
Cleveland
W 89–79
Cook & Payton (13)
Devean George (12)
Fisher & Payton (4)
Staples Center 23–11
35
January 14
Denver
W 97–71
Slava Medvedenko (22)
Horace Grant (11)
Gary Payton (6)
Staples Center 24–11
36
January 16
@ Sacramento
L 83–103
Kareem Rush (30)
Medvedenko & Sampson (9)
Luke Walton (5)
ARCO Arena 24–12
37
January 17
L.A. Clippers
W 91–89
Slava Medvedenko (20)
Medvedenko & Sampson (10)
Gary Payton (15)
Staples Center 25–12
38
January 19
Phoenix
L 85–88
Kareem Rush (18)
Payton & Sampson (8)
Gary Payton (9)
Staples Center 25–13
39
January 21
@ Memphis
L 82–88
Gary Payton (24)
Slava Medvedenko (12)
Kareem Rush (5)
Pyramid Arena 25–14
40
January 22
@ Dallas
L 87–106
Devean George (24)
Luke Walton (7)
Gary Payton (5)
American Airlines Center 25–15
41
January 24
@ Utah
W 93–86
Slava Medvedenko (26)
Slava Medvedenko (12)
Bryant & Payton (6)
Delta Center 26–15
42
January 28
Seattle
W 96–82
Gary Payton (24)
Horace Grant (10)
Gary Payton (5)
Staples Center 27–15
43
January 30
Minnesota
L 84–97
Shaquille O'Neal (22)
Shaquille O'Neal (9)
Gary Payton (9)
Staples Center 27–16
February: 11–4 (home: 2–1; road: 9–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
44
February 1
@ Toronto
W 84–83
Shaquille O'Neal (36)
Horace Grant (9)
Shaquille O'Neal (5)
Air Canada Centre 28–16
45
February 2
@ Indiana
L 72–85
Slava Medvedenko (14)
Gary Payton (8)
Gary Payton (7)
Conseco Fieldhouse 28–17
46
February 4
@ Cleveland
W 111–106 (OT)
Shaquille O'Neal (37)
Grant & O'Neal (12)
O'Neal & Payton (6)
Gund Arena 29–17
47
February 5
@ Philadelphia
L 73–96
Shaquille O'Neal (17)
Shaquille O'Neal (8)
Fisher & Walton (5)
Wachovia Center 29–18
48
February 8
@ Orlando
W 98–96
Shaquille O'Neal (20)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Luke Walton (7)
TD Waterhouse Centre 30–18
49
February 10
@ Miami
W 98–83
Shaquille O'Neal (25)
Devean George (11)
Fisher & Payton (6)
American Airlines Arena 31–18
50
February 11
@ Houston
L 87–102
Shaquille O'Neal (24)
Shaquille O'Neal (9)
Shaquille O'Neal (4)
Toyota Center 31–19
All-Star Break
51
February 17
Portland
W 89–86
Kobe Bryant (31)
Shaquille O'Neal (11)
Kobe Bryant (10)
Staples Center 32–19
52
February 18
@ Golden State
W 100–99
Kobe Bryant (35)
Shaquille O'Neal (16)
Kobe Bryant (8)
The Arena in Oakland 33–19
53
February 20
Philadelphia
W 116–88
Shaquille O'Neal (29)
Shaquille O'Neal (13)
Bryant & Fisher (7)
Staples Center 34–19
54
February 22
@ Phoenix
W 104–92
Kobe Bryant (40)
Bryant & Fox (7)
3 players tied (5)
America West Arena 35–19
55
February 25
@ Denver
W 112–111
Kobe Bryant (35)
Shaquille O'Neal (8)
Kobe Bryant (10)
Pepsi Center 36–19
56
February 26
Sacramento
L 101–103
Kobe Bryant (35)
Kobe Bryant (11)
Bryant & Payton (6)
Staples Center 36–20
57
February 28
@ Washington
W 122–110
Shaquille O'Neal (19)
Kobe Bryant (14)
Kobe Bryant (10)
MCI Center 37–20
58
February 29
@ New Jersey
W 100–83
Shaquille O'Neal (19)
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Kobe Bryant (10)
Continental Airlines Arena 38–20
March: 13–3 (home: 9–0; road: 4–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
59
March 2
@ Atlanta
L 93–94
O'Neal & Payton (23)
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Gary Payton (10)
Philips Arena 38–21
60
March 3
@ Houston
W 96–93
Shaquille O'Neal (28)
Kobe Bryant (8)
Kobe Bryant (13)
Toyota Center 39–21
61
March 5
Seattle
W 99–91
Shaquille O'Neal (32)
Luke Walton (9)
Fox & Payton (7)
Staples Center 40–21
62
March 7
New Jersey
W 94–88
Shaquille O'Neal (32)
O'Neal & Payton (9)
Rick Fox (5)
Staples Center 41–21
63
March 8
@ Utah
L 83–88
Gary Payton (21)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Gary Payton (7)
Delta Center 41–22
64
March 10
@ Boston
W 117–109
Shaquille O'Neal (28)
Shaquille O'Neal (17)
Kobe Bryant (10)
FleetCenter 42–22
65
March 12
@ Minnesota
L 86–96
Shaquille O'Neal (24)
Shaquille O'Neal (13)
Fox & Payton (6)
Target Center 42–23
66
March 13
@ Chicago
W 88–81
Kobe Bryant (35)
Shaquille O'Neal (15)
Karl Malone (7)
United Center 43–23
67
March 15
Orlando
W 113–110 (OT)
Kobe Bryant (38)
Shaquille O'Neal (23)
Bryant & Malone (4)
Staples Center 44–23
68
March 17
@ L.A. Clippers
W 106–103
Kobe Bryant (27)
Shaquille O'Neal (11)
Gary Payton (7)
Staples Center 45–23
69
March 19
L.A. Clippers
W 106–100
Kobe Bryant (27)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Fox & O'Neal (6)
Staples Center 46–23
70
March 21
Milwaukee
W 104–103 (OT)
Shaquille O'Neal (31)
Shaquille O'Neal (26)
Gary Payton (6)
Staples Center 47–23
71
March 24
Sacramento
W 115–91
Kobe Bryant (36)
Shaquille O'Neal (16)
Bryant & O'Neal (6)
Staples Center 48–23
72
March 26
Minnesota
W 90–73
Kobe Bryant (35)
Shaquille O'Neal (18)
Kobe Bryant (5)
Staples Center 49–23
73
March 28
Utah
W 91–84
Kobe Bryant (34)
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Kobe Bryant (4)
Staples Center 50–23
74
March 30
New Orleans
W 107–88
Kobe Bryant (23)
Shaquille O'Neal (9)
Karl Malone (9)
Staples Center 51–23
April: 5–3 (home: 3–2; road: 2–1)
2003–04 season schedule
Playoffs
2004 playoff game log
First round: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
Conference Semi-finals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
Conference finals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
NBA Finals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
2004 schedule
The Lakers playing against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the 2004 Western Conference Semi-finals at the SBC Center .
NBA Finals
Series summary
Team/Game
1
2 (OT)
3
4
5
Wins
Los Angeles
75
99 68
80
87
1
Detroit
87 91
88 88
100 4
(OT) denotes a game that required overtime . The Finals were played using a 2-3-2 format, where the first two and last two games are held at the venue of the team with home court advantage . This was only used in the Finals.
Background
The Lakers had a star-studded lineup that included offseason acquisitions Karl Malone and Gary Payton as well as mainstays Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal . Malone and Payton were perennial All-Stars ; Payton had led the Seattle SuperSonics to the Finals in 1996 , while Malone's Utah Jazz reached the Finals in 1997 and 1998 .[ 17] Michael Jordan 's Chicago Bulls . By 2003, Malone and Payton were in the latter stages of their respective careers and were no longer playing on championship-contending teams.[ 17] [ 18] [ 19]
Game One
Sunday, June 6, 2004, 14:30 at the Staples Center .
Detroit stunned Los Angeles with imposing defense.[ 20]
The Pistons trailed the Lakers 41–40 at halftime, but a 10–4 surge in the third quarter gave them the lead and they never relinquished it. By the fourth quarter, their lead had increased to 13.
Box Score
Team
1st Qt.
2nd Qt.
3rd Qt.
4th Qt.
Total
Detroit
22
18
24
23
87
Los Angeles
19
22
17
17
75
Game Two
Tuesday, June 8, 2004, 15:04 at the Staples Center.
The Lakers led by eight after the first half. However, Detroit scored 30 points in the third quarter to keep the game close. With 2.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Kobe Bryant hit a three-point shot to tie the score at 89. The game went to overtime and the Lakers outscored the Pistons 10–2 to win their only game of the series.
Team
1st Qt.
2nd Qt.
3rd Qt.
4th Qt.
OT
Total
Detroit
16
20
30
23
2
91
Los Angeles
18
26
24
21
10
99
Game Three
Thursday, June 10, 2004, 14:31 at The Palace of Auburn Hills .
The Pistons beat the Lakers by 20 in their first NBA Finals appearance at The Palace of Auburn Hills since 1990[ 21] [ 22]
Team
1st Qt.
2nd Qt.
3rd Qt.
4th Qt.
Total
Los Angeles
16
16
19
17
68
Detroit
24
15
24
25
88
Game Four
Sunday, June 13, 2004, 14:49 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
The Pistons defeated the Lakers, this time by eight, to take a 3–1 series advantage. Shaquille O'Neal scored 36 points and grabbed 20 rebounds, but the rest of the Lakers shot 17/57 from the field.[ 23]
Team
1st Qt.
2nd Qt.
3rd Qt.
4th Qt.
Total
Los Angeles
22
17
17
24
80
Detroit
21
20
15
32
88
Game Five
Tuesday, June 15, 2004, 14:32 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
In Game 5, the Pistons won their first championship since 1990 and Larry Brown won his first title as an NBA coach. The Pistons defense had overcome the high-scoring Lakers offense, winning the game by 13 and the series 4–1. In four of the five games, the Lakers were held to less than 90 points.
After the series, Phil Jackson stepped down as coach (he would return for the 2005–06 season). Shaquille O'Neal was traded to Miami. Gary Payton and Rick Fox were traded to Boston. Karl Malone, who did not dress for Game 5, would have surgery on his knee and eventually retired the following February.
Team
1st Qt.
2nd Qt.
3rd Qt.
4th Qt.
Total
Los Angeles
24
21
14
28
87
Detroit
25
30
27
18
100
Player stats
Regular season
Playoffs
Award winners
Transactions
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(February 2013 )
References
^ "2003-04 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference.com .^ "Lakers Sign Free Agents Gary Payton and Karl Malone" . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. July 16, 2003. Retrieved April 20, 2011 .^ Lazenby, Roland (2006). The Show: The Inside Story of the Spectacular Los Angeles Lakers in the Words of Those Who Lived It New York, New York : McGraw-Hill Professional . p. 422 . ISBN 978-0-07-143034-0 ^ Wise, Mike (October 4, 2003). "Pro Basketball; With Bryant Absent, Lakers Begin Practicing" . The New York Times . Retrieved April 20, 2011 . ^ May, Peter (October 28, 2003). "Lakers are a lock -- for turmoil" . The Boston Globe . Retrieved April 20, 2011 . ^ Buerge, Daniel. "A Complete Timeline of the Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant Feud" . Lakers Nation . Retrieved April 2, 2013 . ^ DuPree, David (May 4, 2004). "Changing of guard not easy" . USA Today . Archived from the original on June 18, 2014. ^ Adande, J. A. (November 6, 2012). "West Side: Mike Brown's O is working" . ESPN.com . Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. ^ Brown, Tim. "Malone Out for a While" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved January 29, 2004 . ^ "Bryant, Lakers on the Rise" . Los Angeles Times . April 15, 2004.^ "Top Moments: Pistons shock NBA world, win championship in 2004" . NBA.com .^ "Billups: Pistons 'ready to shock the world' . ESPN.com . June 5, 2004.^ "Youth and Defense Should Be Lakers' Mantra" . Los Angeles Times . June 17, 2004.^ Winderman, Ira. "PISTONS ARE A REAL CHAMPIONSHIP T-E-A-M" . Sun-Sentinel.com . ^ "Coach could move to another Lakers job" . ESPN . Associated Press. Retrieved June 21, 2004 .^ "Kobe remains with Lakers" . ESPN . Associated Press. Retrieved July 16, 2004 .^ a b "Utah Jazz" . CBS Sports. Retrieved September 4, 2007 .^ "Seattle Supersonics" . CBS Sports Archived from the original on August 26, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2007 .^ "Lakers deal Payton, Fox to Celtics" . Deseret News . Associated Press. August 7, 2004.^ "Billups, Pistons Swipe Home-Court Advantage" . NBA . Retrieved September 4, 2007 . Led by their trademark daunting defense ^ "DETROIT PISTONS HISTORY" . Basketball Tickets . Archived from the original on August 6, 2007. Retrieved September 3, 2007 .^ "Lakers Facing Uphill Battle" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. June 13, 2004. ISSN 0458-3035 . Retrieved February 13, 2017 .^ "2004 NBA Finals Game 4: Lakers vs Pistons, June 13, 2004" . Basketball-Reference.com . Retrieved April 9, 2023 .
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