The series headed back to San Antonio for the pivotal Game 5. By this time, the parents and I were in the country’s 3rd largest city, Quetzaltenango, staying at the home of our family friends. I ate the dinner that was prepared for us as fast as I could so I could run into the other room to watch the rest of the game. Luckily for me, our friends were Lakers supporters themselves and had absolutely not problem with me ditching the dinner conversation to see the Lake Show. I tuned in halfway though the 4th quarter and things were frighteningly close. A low scoring game usually plays right into the hands of the Spurs, so when I saw the score was still in the 60’s late into the 4th I instantly began to worry.
With 30 seconds left in the game and the Lakers down by 1, Fisher brought the ball up court. With 20 seconds left Bryant released from the wing to receive the ball. Karl Malone came up to set a pick, Bryant used it and drained a long jumper to put LA up by 1.
“YEEEEEEESSS!!!”
“Steve! What happened?”
“Lakers up by 1 with 11 seconds.”
After a few seconds got shaved off the clock, the Spurs inbounded the ball with 5.4 seconds left. Tim Duncan received the ball above the key, held on a few seconds then crossed the top of the key below the 3-point line and lobbed up an off balance shot as he fell to his left. Shaquille O’Neal actually played excellent defense and contested Duncan the whole way through. Ball in. Crowd goes crazy. Spurs up by 1 with .4 seconds left.
Next: The Fisher Fling