NJN 103 LAL 106 The only truly competitive game of the series, where Nets stars showed up. But the Lakers had Shaq, and went on to sweep Nets, 4-0.
Game 3 of the 2002 NBA Finals was arguably the most competitive of the series, with the New Jersey Nets delivering their best performance. Despite their efforts, they struggled to contain Shaquille O'Neal, known as "The Diesel."
Player of the game: Shaquille O’Neal, 35 PTS, 12-19 63 FG%, 11-17 FTM, 11 REB, 2 AST, 4 BLK
Notable performance: Jason Kidd, 30 PTS, 13-23 56 FG%, 10 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK
Byron Scott, the Nets' head coach, remained optimistic despite the 0-3 deficit against the Los Angeles Lakers. Reflecting on their situation, Scott admitted, "It's almost written down as being impossible."
In this closely contested game, the Lakers managed to secure a narrow victory on the road, extending their lead to 3-0 in the series. This win brought them one step closer to clinching their third consecutive NBA title.
The Nets' inability to control Shaquille O’Neal was a critical factor in their downfall. O'Neal's dominance in the 2002 NBA Finals, where he averaged an astounding 37 points per game, presented a significant challenge for Scott and his coaching staff.
In a best-of-seven series, falling behind 0-3 is a near-insurmountable obstacle. Historically, no NBA team had ever come back from such a deficit to win the championship. The New Jersey Nets faced this daunting task in 2002, up against the formidable Los Angeles Lakers.
Improving their defense against O'Neal could have potentially changed the outcome for the Nets. However, their struggle to find an effective strategy against him ultimately sealed their fate in the series.
