This Day In Lakers History: Kobe Bryant Has Near Triple-Double To Set Up Game-Winner From Kareem Rush

When fans reflect on the team’s numerous clutch heroics over the years, they rarely think of former Los Angeles Lakers guard Kareem Rush. However, on February 25, 2004, Rush showed off his ice veins when he sank the game-winning basket against the Denver Nuggets, capping off a run that Kobe Bryant spearheaded.

In addition to his prolific scoring that season, Bryant finished with 35 points on the night. He also finished with seven rebounds, 10 assists, and a potential triple-double, which put Rush in an unlikely position to win for Los Angeles.

The fact that Rush played on a team with Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Gary Payton added to the surprise of their feats. After the game, Rush acknowledged to ESPN that Phil Jackson wasn’t really planning on setting him up for the game-winning basket after receiving a feed from then-rookie Luke Walton.

Rush stated, “Kobe was supposed to create something for the play, and he got doubled.” I’m scurrying around, looking for a place to go. I took the shot after Luke located me. Though I’ve made a thousand baskets in my life, I haven’t been in that situation since college.

Though he usually took the last shot, Bryant set up Rush, who was obviously more than capable of finishing.

Kareem Rush and other figures
Rush scored eight points on three of five shots, including the game-winning three, in fifteen minutes off the bench. Walton concluded with a very strange stat line of two points, five rebounds, five assists, and four steals—making his lone field goal attempt.

Along with protecting the paint for four blocks and scoring 16 points and pulling down eight rebounds, O’Neal also helped the Lakers win with 14 points and eight assists from Gary Payton.

In the game, rookie Carmelo Anthony of the Nuggets engaged in one of the first of many scoring duel sequences with Bryant. Anthony surprised the more skilled Lakers by scoring 35 points on 14 of 25 shots, adding four rebounds and a block, before ultimately losing.