On This Date: Bibby’s Game Winner Lifts Kings Over Mavs In OT Thriller
May 11, 2020, 11:05 AM | Updated: May 12, 2020, 10:30 am
(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
18 years ago today, Mike Bibby’s clutch lay-in gave the Kings a commanding 3-1 series lead over Dallas
All athletic events will be on pause for the foreseeable future, which is a tough pill to swallow for sports fans around the world.
While this may be a rough time for Sacramento Kings fans, we can look back on some good times while we wait for basketball to make its return.
May 11, 2002 – NBA Western Conference Semifinals
Kings 115, Mavericks 113 (SAC leads series 3-1)
One of the greatest playoff games in Sacramento Kings history occurred 18 years ago today when Mike Bibby sank a go-ahead basket with 12.2 seconds left, giving the Kings a 115-113 win over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
Coming into Game 4 in Dallas, Sacramento held a 2-1 series lead in the best-of-seven second round matchup. The game would be a back-and-forth shootout, with the Kings erasing a seven-point fourth quarter deficit to send the game into overtime.
Mike Bibby, who saved the game with a game-tying bucket with 31.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter, found himself with the ball in his hands near the end of overtime.
With 15 seconds remaining and the game tied at 113-113, Bibby made his move towards the baseline and cut to the hoop for a go-ahead lay-in to give the Kings a two-point lead with 12.2 seconds left. Out of the Dallas timeout, Dirk Nowitzki’s final attempt would rim out as time expired.
Sacramento took a 3-1 series lead, needing just one win to advance to the Western Conference Finals.
Chris Webber, who fouled out with 4:45 remaining in the fourth quarter, finished with 30 points on 12-of-15 from the field and 10 rebounds. Bobby Jackson started in place in the injured Peja Stojakovic and scored 26 points, hitting 10 of his 20 attempts.
The hero of the game Mike Bibby finished with 24 points, six rebounds and four assists for Sacramento. Vlade Divac, who also fouled out late, grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds in the win.
