10 games that shaped the Lakers’ season

A look back at 10 key games of the Lakers championship season:

-- NBA Finals Game 7: This game was for it all, and he Lakers were struggling on offense. But they stayed with their defense and controlled the backboards against the Boston Celtics. The Lakers had 53 rebounds, 23 offensives, which off-set 32.5% shooting by the Lakers. Kobe Bryant was at his worst offensively, making just six of 24 shots. The Lakers trailed by 13 points, but made a strong push in the fourth quarter and pulled out the victory for the franchise’s 16th NBA championship.

--NBA Finals Game 6: The Lakers returned home from Boston on the brink of elimination, down 2-3 in the best-of-seven series.

They came with energy and determination in Game 6, building a 27-point lead, winning by 22 points to set up the championship game. The Lakers defense was outstanding, holding the Celtics to 33.3% shooting.

--Western Conference Finals Game 6: The Lakers were in a struggle against the Phoenix Suns, who employed a zone defense that slowed down L.A. Kobe Bryant had an amazing game, scoring 37 points, two with Grant Hill in his face. After Bryant made the late shot in front of the Suns’ bench, he patted Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry.

--Western Conference Semi-Finals Game 3: The Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz, 111-110, in Salt Lake to take a 3-0 lead in the series that L.A. would sweep, 4-0. But in that Game 3, the Lakers got the win after Ron Artest played good defense on Deron Williams, who missed a jumper late. But it wasn’t until Wesley Matthews missed a last-second tip-in that the Lakers escaped with the victory.

--Western Conference First-Round Game 6: The Lakers had their hands full on the road with the younger, talented and more athletic Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6. The Lakers trailed by one point when Kobe Bryant missed a jumper. But Pau Gasol scored on a put-back with 0.5 seconds left for the win.

--Lakers at Denver: It was an early-season showdown in November between the Lakers and Nuggets, their first meeting since Game 6 of the 2009 Western Conference Finals. The Nuggets believed that they were a better team. The Lakers got drilled, 105-79. That was an early indication of how good Denver could be and how difficult it would be for the Lakers to repeat as NBA champions.

--Lakers at Boston: This was an intense, playoff-type of game between the Lakers and Celtics in late January. Kobe Bryant made a 16-foot jumper with 7.3 seconds left over Ray Allen. Bryant’s shot was set up because Ron Artest drew a change against Paul Pierce with 27.5seconds left and the Lakers trailing by one point. The Lakers won, 90-89.

--Lakers at Portland: The Lakers had lost nine games in a row in Portland. The Lakers played the Trail Blazers in February without Kobe Bryant (sprained left ankle), then Andrew Bynum went down during the game with a bruised right hip. But the Lakers won the game, 99-82. Lamar Odom led the way with 22 points.

--Lakers at Utah: Kobe Bryant (sprained left ankle) and Andrew Bynum (bruised right hip), both missed the game. Behind 25 points from Lamar Odom and 19 rebounds from Pau Gasol, the Lakers defeated the Jazz, 96-81, in February. It proved to the Lakers and Bryant how good they could be even without their star.

--Lakers at Oklahoma City: The Lakers got beaten so badly, 91-75, in March that Coach Phil Jackson wondered if he should come back next season. He said if the team wasn’t going to listen to him, and if his message was getting old, why should he return? It was one of the low-water marks for the Lakers, another sign of how tough the regular-season can be.

broderick.turner@latimes.com

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