SAN ANTONIO, May 12 (UPI) -- Kobe Bryant made a fantastic follow shot with 5.1 seconds remaining Sunday to complete a stirring comeback and give the Los Angeles Lakers an 87-85 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, who stumbled down the stretch.
For the second straight game, the Lakers shut down the Spurs, rallied behind Bryant and stunned a huge Alamodome crowd. The two-time defending champions opened a commanding 3-1 lead in their NBA Western Conference semifinal series and can wrap it up with a win at home Tuesday.
Bryant, as he was in the fourth quarter on Friday, was phenomenal. In the last three minutes, he sank two 3-pointers to tie the game before making the game-winner.
After Shaquille O'Neal rebounded Robert Horry's missed 3-pointer, Bryant reset the offense above the 3-point arc. He lost his dribble, but it was tracked down by Derek Fisher, who drove and pulled up for a jumper that he left short.
Bryant soared for the offensive rebound, then flipped a one-handed shot over Tim Duncan to give the Lakers the lead.
San Antonio had a chance to tie, but Terry Porter slipped after receiving the inbounds pass. He shoveled the ball to Duncan, whose shot was short and too late.
The Spurs sputtered again as they were held to 10 points in the fourth quarter -- just one in the final five minutes. They have had a chance to win every game but have averaged just 15.5 points in the final period.
