March 15 2004: T-Mac (37pts) and Kobe (38pts) in an Ides of March showdown in LA. "Let me tell you something right now, if there's any question in anybody's mind who the best player in the league is, CALL ME!" - Lakers announcer Stu Lantz.
For 3 quarters, prime Tracy McGrady was dropping bombs and Juwan Howard was looking like Juwanna Mann. The Lakers were down 87-69 with less than a minute to go in the 3rd. Kobe, who hadn't even scored his first bucket until the 3rd, made a move on McGrady (not in this video) and cut the Magic lead to 16. The next possession down the floor (in this video), Kobe was guarding McGrady, who tried working the smaller Bryant closer to the basket. Kobe ripped the ball right out of his hands and so it began. Both superstars were taking and making what are for other players considered poor shots, as they were wont to do. Shaq had a 20-20 game with 23 boards but the difference down the stretch was Kobe, who answered the call whenever the Lakers needed a big bucket or 5. McGrady's heave at the buzzer to end regulation went in; the game winning shot left his hands a milisecond too late. The Lakers would win 113-110 in OT after Kobe hit an open Gary Payton for 3.
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Kobe: 38pts (13-26) 3reb 4ast 1stl 1blk
Shaq: 27pts (9-17) 23reb 3ast 5blk
McGrady: 37pts (13-32) 7reb 10ast 2blk
Howard: 29pts (12-18) 9reb 2ast 1stl 1blk
🎶: The song is "Lola's Theme" by Shapeshifters, released in 2004.

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