With the NBA return still a little ways away due to COVID-19, we continue our day-by-day look back at the history of the Philadelphia 76ers. We continue down our path into Sixers history every day as we look to fill the void left by the absence of basketball.
This was the big stage for the Sixers. They had just knocked off the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals and they were on the game’s biggest stage against the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals. Los Angeles had just bulldozed their way through the West part of the bracket and had not lost yet. Just another challenge for Allen Iverson and company to push through.
June 6, 2001
Everybody knew the challenge the Sixers had to face. This was the Lakers, after all. The defending champions led by the best big man in the game in Shaquille O’Neal plus the dynamic and explosive Kobe Bryant. Despite having league MVP Iverson on their side, the Sixers were heavily outmatched in this series.
However, for one night at least, the 6-foot guard overcame Shaq and Kobe.
Iverson was scintillating. He had 48 points on 18-for-41 shooting along with six assists, five steals, and five rebounds including one of the most iconic moments in NBA history. He had Lakers guard Tyronn Lue covering him in the corner late in overtime and Philadelphia nursing a 101-99 lead when he hit him with a crossover and proceeded to step over Lue on his wat to lead the way to a 107-101 win in Game 1.
Along with Iverson’s big game, Dikembe Mutombo had 13 points, 16 rebounds, and five blocks, Eric Snow had 13, Matt Geiger had 10, and Aaron McKie had nine points and nine assists. It was an impressive Game 1 performance for Philadelphia, but their work is far from done. It was the first loss the Lakers took in the playoffs and they would not take it lightly. [lawrence-related id=32660,32627,32631]