Bryant Shines in Win for the Ages

They carried the team, then they carried each other at the end of Game 4, embracing unabashedly on the sideline before the cameras and the world.

Through four bristling quarters and into an operatic overtime, it was all about those two titans, journeying to the brink of a championship.

Shaquille O’Neal, the most valuable player, and Kobe Bryant, the most electric presence in the game, shared credit, shared the ball, and shared responsibility for one of the most meaningful performances in recent Laker history.

It was a game for the ages, and a victory for Laker lore, a 120-118 overtime win over the Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse that gave the Lakers a 3-1 NBA finals lead, bringing them within one victory of their first championship in a dozen years.

When it was at last over, when Reggie Miller’s three-point shot tinked off the front rim and the Lakers jumped for joy as the buzzer sounded, the longer, harder quest was almost over too.

O’Neal scored 36 points and grabbed 21 rebounds before fouling out with 2:33 to play in overtime.

This time, when O’Neal fouled out, the fate of the team was turned over to Bryant at this pivotal moment.

And Bryant, who still was hobbled but didn’t care, was ready.

He scored 28 points, made all four of his shots in overtime, including the over-his-head, two-handed follow of a Brian Shaw miss with 5.9 seconds left that ended up as the winning margin.

IN QUOTES

“When the Big Fella fouled out, that’s when Kobe carried us on his back, like Shaq has done all season.”

RICK FOX,

Laker forward

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“Well, when Shaq went out, my thought was, you know, this game just became a lot more interesting than it was a couple of seconds ago.”

KOBE BRYANT,

Laker guard

THE SERIES

Lakers lead, 3-1