# 2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 2003–04 NBA season was the Lakers' 56th season in the National Basketball Association and 44th in the city of Los Angeles.
The Lakers entered the season following a disappointing second-round loss to the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs in the 2003 playoffs. During the offseason, the Lakers signed star free agents Karl Malone and Gary Payton and re-signed free agent power forward Horace Grant. Following these acquisitions, the Lakers became the instant favorites to win the NBA title.
Despite major acquisitions, key moves, and becoming overnight title favorites, the Lakers would run into major setbacks to begin the season. During the 2003 off-season, superstar guard Kobe Bryant had been accused of sexual assault in Colorado. Media attention surrounding the case would prove to be an ongoing distraction for the team, and Bryant missed games during his trial. In addition, Bryant's feud with Shaquille O'Neal reached a peak during the season, as both players criticized each other in the media. Payton struggled with coach Phil Jackson's triangle offense, and Malone missed significant time due to injuries.
Despite the setbacks, the Lakers finished the season with a 56–26 overall record, good enough to clinch the second seed in the Western Conference en route to the playoffs. In the playoffs, they defeated the Houston Rockets, the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, and the Minnesota Timberwolves to earn the franchise its 28th appearance in the NBA Finals. The Lakers entered the Finals against the Detroit Pistons as favorites. This was the third meeting between the Lakers and the Pistons in the NBA Finals, after both franchises met in 1988 and 1989. However, the underdog Pistons' strong defense and teamwork propelled them to their third championship in franchise history, and the star-studded Lakers would collapse in five games. After the season, Jackson and the team mutually agreed to part ways and O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 24 | Brian Cook | F | United States | Illinois |
| 2 | 32 | Luke Walton | F | United States | Arizona |

## Regular season
### Season standings
#### By division

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Los Angeles Lakers | 56 | 26 | .683 | – | 34–7 | 22–19 | 15–9 |
| x-Sacramento Kings | 55 | 27 | .671 | 1 | 34–7 | 21–20 | 16–8 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 41 | 41 | .500 | 15 | 25–16 | 16–25 | 13–11 |
| Seattle SuperSonics | 37 | 45 | .451 | 19 | 21–20 | 16–25 | 11–13 |
| Golden State Warriors | 37 | 45 | .451 | 19 | 27–14 | 10–31 | 12–12 |
| Phoenix Suns | 29 | 53 | .354 | 27 | 18–23 | 11–30 | 9–15 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 28 | 18–23 | 10–31 | 8–16 |

#### By conference

| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Minnesota Timberwolves | 58 | 24 | .707 | – |
| 2 | y-Los Angeles Lakers | 56 | 26 | .683 | 2 |
| 3 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 57 | 25 | .695 | 1 |
| 4 | x-Sacramento Kings | 55 | 27 | .671 | 3 |
| 5 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 52 | 30 | .634 | 6 |
| 6 | x-Memphis Grizzlies | 50 | 32 | .610 | 8 |
| 7 | x-Houston Rockets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 13 |
| 8 | x-Denver Nuggets | 43 | 39 | .524 | 15 |
| 9 | Utah Jazz | 42 | 40 | .512 | 16 |
| 10 | Portland Trail Blazers | 41 | 41 | .500 | 17 |
| 11 | Seattle SuperSonics | 37 | 45 | .451 | 21 |
| 12 | Golden State Warriors | 37 | 45 | .451 | 21 |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | 29 | 53 | .354 | 29 |
| 14 | Los Angeles Clippers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 30 |

### Record vs. opponents

2003-04 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NOH | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| Boston | 1–3 | – | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Chicago | 1–3 | 2–1 | – | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Cleveland | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | – | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | – | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 3–1 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 |
| Golden State | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | – | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| L.A. Clippers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | – | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | – | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Memphis | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| Miami | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | – | 1–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Milwaukee | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | – | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Minnesota | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| New Jersey | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | – | 2–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| New Orleans | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | – | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| New York | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | – | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 |
| Orlando | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | – | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Philadelphia | 2–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Sacramento | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | – | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | – | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | – | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Toronto | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | – | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Utah | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | – | 1–1 |
| Washington | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — |

## Game log
### Pre-season

2003 preseason game log Total: 3–5 :
Preseason
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 7
Golden State
W 107-89
Shaquille O'Neal (16)
Devean George (7)
Gary Payton (7)
Stan Sheriff Center (Honolulu, HI) 10,300
1–0
2
October 8
Golden State
L 83-99
Gary Payton (11)
Shaquille O'Neal (8)
Shaquille O'Neal (5)
Stan Sheriff Center (Honolulu, HI) 10,300
1-1
3
October 14
Phoenix
L 86-104
Derek Fisher (14)
3 players tied (6)
Gary Payton (4)
San Diego Sports Arena (San Diego, CA) 13,144
1–2
4
October 16
Cleveland
W 86-78
Karl Malone (18)
Karl Malone (13)
Malone & Payton (7)
Staples Center 18,997
2-2
5
October 17
Phoenix
W 91-84
Derek Fisher (18)
Eric Chenowith (7)
Luke Walton (4)
Staples Center 18,997
3–2
6
October 19
Cleveland
L 87-102
Shaquille O'Neal (20)
Shaquille O'Neal (6)
Luke Walton (5)
Centennial Garden (Bakersfield, CA) 9,772
3-3
7
October 23
L.A. Clippers
L 101-107
Shaquille O'Neal (18)
Shaquille O'Neal (9)
Gary Payton (7)
Arrowhead Pond (Anaheim, CA) 18,298
3–4
8
October 24
Sacramento
L 87-93
Shaquille O'Neal (19)
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Malone & O'Neal (5)
Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, NV) 18,234
3–5 :
2003–04 season schedule :

### Regular season

2003–04 game log Total: 56–26 (home: 34–7; road: 22-19) :
October: 1–0 (home: 1–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 28
Dallas
W 109–93
Gary Payton (21)
Karl Malone (10)
Malone & Payton (9)
Staples Center 18,997
1–0 :
November: 13–3 (home: 9–0; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
2
November 1
@ Phoenix
W 103–99
Shaquille O'Neal (24)
3 players tied (12)
Gary Payton (9)
America West Arena 18,422
2–0
3
November 2
Golden State
W 87–72
Kobe Bryant (21)
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Gary Payton (11)
Staples Center 18,997
3–0
4
November 4
@ Milwaukee
W 113–107
Kobe Bryant (31)
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Kobe Bryant (8)
Bradley Center 18,717
4–0
5
November 6
@ San Antonio
W 120–117 (2OT)
Kobe Bryant (37)
Shaquille O'Neal (20)
O'Neal & Payton (6)
SBC Center 18,717
5–0
6
November 7
@ New Orleans
L 95–114
Shaquille O'Neal (21)
Malone & O'Neal (6)
Gary Payton (11)
New Orleans Arena 18,717
5–1
7
November 10
@ Memphis
L 95–105
Shaquille O'Neal (20)
Shaquille O'Neal (12)
Kobe Bryant (5)
Pyramid Arena 19,351
5–2
8
November 12
Toronto
W 94–79
Shaquille O'Neal (23)
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Gary Payton (6)
Staples Center 18,997
6–2
9
November 14
Detroit
W 94–89
O'Neal & Payton (21)
Shaquille O'Neal (15)
Shaquille O'Neal (8)
Staples Center 18,997
7–2
10
November 16
Miami
W 99–77
Kobe Bryant (27)
Karl Malone (10)
Gary Payton (8)
Staples Center 18,997
8–2
11
November 18
@ Detroit
L 96–106
Malone & O'Neal (20)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
3 players tied (5)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
8–3
12
November 19
@ New York
W 104–83
Shaquille O'Neal (23)
Karl Malone (14)
Bryant & Malone (4)
Madison Square Garden 19,763
9–3
13
November 21
Chicago
W 101–94
Kobe Bryant (28)
Karl Malone (18)
Bryant & Payton (4)
Staples Center 18,997
10–3
14
November 23
Memphis
W 121–89
Kobe Bryant (28)
Slava Medvedenko (11)
Gary Payton (10)
Staples Center 18,997
11–3
15
November 26
Washington
W 120–99
Kobe Bryant (22)
Horace Grant (6)
Malone & Payton (5)
Staples Center 18,997
12–3
16
November 28
San Antonio
W 103–87
Devean George (19)
Karl Malone (11)
Karl Malone (10)
Staples Center 18,997
13–3
17
November 30
Indiana
W 99–77
Shaquille O'Neal (23)
Karl Malone (15)
Kobe Bryant (7)
Staples Center 18,997
14–3 :
December: 7–4 (home: 5–2; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
18
December 3
@ San Antonio
W 90–86
Kobe Bryant (21)
Shaquille O'Neal (16)
Gary Payton (6)
SBC Center 18,841
15–3
19
December 4
@ Dallas
W 114–103
Kobe Bryant (32)
Shaquille O'Neal (19)
Gary Payton (8)
American Airlines Center 20,596
16–3
20
December 7
Utah
W 94–92
Bryant & O'Neal (19)
Shaquille O'Neal (15)
Shaquille O'Neal (8)
Staples Center 18,997
17–3
21
December 9
New York
W 98–90
Kobe Bryant (21)
Shaquille O'Neal (15)
Kobe Bryant (9)
Staples Center 18,997
18–3
22
December 12
Dallas
L 93–110
Shaquille O'Neal (25)
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Kobe Bryant (6)
Staples Center 18,997
18–4
23
December 13
@ Portland
L 108–112
Kobe Bryant (35)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Kobe Bryant (6)
Rose Garden 20,630
18–5
24
December 19
Denver
W 101–99
Shaquille O'Neal (26)
Shaquille O'Neal (11)
Gary Payton (11)
Staples Center 18,997
19–5
25
December 21
Phoenix
W 107–101
George & Payton (19)
Shaquille O'Neal (18)
Gary Payton (7)
Staples Center 18,997
20–5
26
December 23
@ Golden State
L 98–107
Kobe Bryant (23)
Devean George (9)
Gary Payton (13)
The Arena in Oakland 20,310
20–6
27
December 25
Houston
L 87–99
Kobe Bryant (23)
Horace Grant (11)
Gary Payton (7)
Staples Center 18,997
20–7
28
December 28
Boston
W 105–82
Shaquille O'Neal (22)
Shaquille O'Neal (16)
Bryant & Payton (6)
Staples Center 18,997
21–7 :
January: 6–9 (home: 5–2; road: 1–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
29
January 2
@ Seattle
L 109–111
Kobe Bryant (32)
Bryant & Grant (6)
Kobe Bryant (6)
KeyArena 17,072
21–8
30
January 4
@ L.A. Clippers
L 98–101
Kobe Bryant (44)
Kobe Bryant (10)
Payton & Russell (4)
Staples Center 19,653
21–9
31
January 6
@ Minnesota
L 90–106
Kobe Bryant (20)
Kobe Bryant (10)
Derek Fisher (5)
Target Center 20,095
21–10
32
January 7
@ Denver
L 91–113
Kobe Bryant (27)
Brian Cook (8)
Kobe Bryant (6)
Pepsi Center 19,739
21–11
33
January 9
Atlanta
W 113–67
Bryant & Medvedenko (26)
Slava Medvedenko (11)
Gary Payton (7)
Staples Center 18,997
22–11
34
January 12
Cleveland
W 89–79
Cook & Payton (13)
Devean George (12)
Fisher & Payton (4)
Staples Center 18,997
23–11
35
January 14
Denver
W 97–71
Slava Medvedenko (22)
Horace Grant (11)
Gary Payton (6)
Staples Center 18,997
24–11
36
January 16
@ Sacramento
L 83–103
Kareem Rush (30)
Medvedenko & Sampson (9)
Luke Walton (5)
ARCO Arena 17,317
24–12
37
January 17
L.A. Clippers
W 91–89
Slava Medvedenko (20)
Medvedenko & Sampson (10)
Gary Payton (15)
Staples Center 18,997
25–12
38
January 19
Phoenix
L 85–88
Kareem Rush (18)
Payton & Sampson (8)
Gary Payton (9)
Staples Center 18,997
25–13
39
January 21
@ Memphis
L 82–88
Gary Payton (24)
Slava Medvedenko (12)
Kareem Rush (5)
Pyramid Arena 19,351
25–14
40
January 22
@ Dallas
L 87–106
Devean George (24)
Luke Walton (7)
Gary Payton (5)
American Airlines Center 20,512
25–15
41
January 24
@ Utah
W 93–86
Slava Medvedenko (26)
Slava Medvedenko (12)
Bryant & Payton (6)
Delta Center 19,911
26–15
42
January 28
Seattle
W 96–82
Gary Payton (24)
Horace Grant (10)
Gary Payton (5)
Staples Center 18,997
27–15
43
January 30
Minnesota
L 84–97
Shaquille O'Neal (22)
Shaquille O'Neal (9)
Gary Payton (9)
Staples Center 18,997
27–16 :
February: 11–4 (home: 2–1; road: 9–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
44
February 1
@ Toronto
W 84–83
Shaquille O'Neal (36)
Horace Grant (9)
Shaquille O'Neal (5)
Air Canada Centre 20,116
28–16
45
February 2
@ Indiana
L 72–85
Slava Medvedenko (14)
Gary Payton (8)
Gary Payton (7)
Conseco Fieldhouse 18,345
28–17
46
February 4
@ Cleveland
W 111–106 (OT)
Shaquille O'Neal (37)
Grant & O'Neal (12)
O'Neal & Payton (6)
Gund Arena 20,562
29–17
47
February 5
@ Philadelphia
L 73–96
Shaquille O'Neal (17)
Shaquille O'Neal (8)
Fisher & Walton (5)
Wachovia Center 20,965
29–18
48
February 8
@ Orlando
W 98–96
Shaquille O'Neal (20)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Luke Walton (7)
TD Waterhouse Centre 17,283
30–18
49
February 10
@ Miami
W 98–83
Shaquille O'Neal (25)
Devean George (11)
Fisher & Payton (6)
American Airlines Arena 16,500
31–18
50
February 11
@ Houston
L 87–102
Shaquille O'Neal (24)
Shaquille O'Neal (9)
Shaquille O'Neal (4)
Toyota Center 18,218
31–19
All-Star Break
51
February 17
Portland
W 89–86
Kobe Bryant (31)
Shaquille O'Neal (11)
Kobe Bryant (10)
Staples Center 18,997
32–19
52
February 18
@ Golden State
W 100–99
Kobe Bryant (35)
Shaquille O'Neal (16)
Kobe Bryant (8)
The Arena in Oakland 20,252
33–19
53
February 20
Philadelphia
W 116–88
Shaquille O'Neal (29)
Shaquille O'Neal (13)
Bryant & Fisher (7)
Staples Center 18,997
34–19
54
February 22
@ Phoenix
W 104–92
Kobe Bryant (40)
Bryant & Fox (7)
3 players tied (5)
America West Arena 18,422
35–19
55
February 25
@ Denver
W 112–111
Kobe Bryant (35)
Shaquille O'Neal (8)
Kobe Bryant (10)
Pepsi Center 19,812
36–19
56
February 26
Sacramento
L 101–103
Kobe Bryant (35)
Kobe Bryant (11)
Bryant & Payton (6)
Staples Center 18,997
36–20
57
February 28
@ Washington
W 122–110
Shaquille O'Neal (19)
Kobe Bryant (14)
Kobe Bryant (10)
MCI Center 20,173
37–20
58
February 29
@ New Jersey
W 100–83
Shaquille O'Neal (19)
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Kobe Bryant (10)
Continental Airlines Arena 19,968
38–20 :
March: 13–3 (home: 9–0; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
59
March 2
@ Atlanta
L 93–94
O'Neal & Payton (23)
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Gary Payton (10)
Philips Arena 19,445
38–21
60
March 3
@ Houston
W 96–93
Shaquille O'Neal (28)
Kobe Bryant (8)
Kobe Bryant (13)
Toyota Center 18,172
39–21
61
March 5
Seattle
W 99–91
Shaquille O'Neal (32)
Luke Walton (9)
Fox & Payton (7)
Staples Center 18,997
40–21
62
March 7
New Jersey
W 94–88
Shaquille O'Neal (32)
O'Neal & Payton (9)
Rick Fox (5)
Staples Center 18,997
41–21
63
March 8
@ Utah
L 83–88
Gary Payton (21)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Gary Payton (7)
Delta Center 19,911
41–22
64
March 10
@ Boston
W 117–109
Shaquille O'Neal (28)
Shaquille O'Neal (17)
Kobe Bryant (10)
FleetCenter 18,624
42–22
65
March 12
@ Minnesota
L 86–96
Shaquille O'Neal (24)
Shaquille O'Neal (13)
Fox & Payton (6)
Target Center 20,391
42–23
66
March 13
@ Chicago
W 88–81
Kobe Bryant (35)
Shaquille O'Neal (15)
Karl Malone (7)
United Center 23,067
43–23
67
March 15
Orlando
W 113–110 (OT)
Kobe Bryant (38)
Shaquille O'Neal (23)
Bryant & Malone (4)
Staples Center 18,997
44–23
68
March 17
@ L.A. Clippers
W 106–103
Kobe Bryant (27)
Shaquille O'Neal (11)
Gary Payton (7)
Staples Center 19,668
45–23
69
March 19
L.A. Clippers
W 106–100
Kobe Bryant (27)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Fox & O'Neal (6)
Staples Center 18,997
46–23
70
March 21
Milwaukee
W 104–103 (OT)
Shaquille O'Neal (31)
Shaquille O'Neal (26)
Gary Payton (6)
Staples Center 18,997
47–23
71
March 24
Sacramento
W 115–91
Kobe Bryant (36)
Shaquille O'Neal (16)
Bryant & O'Neal (6)
Staples Center 18,997
48–23
72
March 26
Minnesota
W 90–73
Kobe Bryant (35)
Shaquille O'Neal (18)
Kobe Bryant (5)
Staples Center 18,997
49–23
73
March 28
Utah
W 91–84
Kobe Bryant (34)
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Kobe Bryant (4)
Staples Center 18,997
50–23
74
March 30
New Orleans
W 107–88
Kobe Bryant (23)
Shaquille O'Neal (9)
Karl Malone (9)
Staples Center 18,997
51–23 :
April: 5–3 (home: 3–2; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
75
April 1
Houston
W 93–85
Kobe Bryant (26)
Karl Malone (14)
Karl Malone (6)
Staples Center 18,997
52–23
76
April 2
@ Seattle
W 97–86
Kobe Bryant (25)
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Rick Fox (6)
KeyArena 17,072
53–23
77
April 4
San Antonio
L 89–95
Kobe Bryant (28)
Malone & O'Neal (9)
Malone & O'Neal (4)
Staples Center 18,997
53–24
78
April 6
Portland
L 80–91
Shaquille O'Neal (17)
Shaquille O'Neal (12)
Kobe Bryant (8)
Staples Center 18,997
53–25
79
April 9
Memphis
W 103–95
Kobe Bryant (33)
Shaquille O'Neal (12)
Bryant & Payton (7)
Staples Center 18,997
54–25
80
April 11
@ Sacramento
L 85–102
Gary Payton (15)
Karl Malone (11)
Fisher & George (5)
ARCO Arena 17,317
54–26
81
April 13
Golden State
W 109–104
Kobe Bryant (45)
Shaquille O'Neal (13)
Kobe Bryant (8)
Staples Center 18,997
55–26
82
April 14
@ Portland
W 105–104 (2OT)
Kobe Bryant (37)
Medvedenko & O'Neal (14)
Fisher & Payton (6)
Rose Garden 20,609
56–26 :
2003–04 season schedule :

### Playoffs

2004 playoff game log Total: 13–9 (home: 10–1; road: 3–8) :
First round: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 17
Houston
W 72–71
Shaquille O'Neal (20)
Shaquille O'Neal (17)
Kobe Bryant (6)
Staples Center 18,997
1–0
2
April 19
Houston
W 98–84
Kobe Bryant (36)
Karl Malone (8)
Gary Payton (7)
Staples Center 18,997
2–0
3
April 23
@ Houston
L 91–102
Shaquille O'Neal (25)
Malone & O'Neal (11)
Gary Payton (7)
Toyota Center 18,226
2–1
4
April 25
@ Houston
W 92–88 (OT)
Karl Malone (30)
Karl Malone (13)
Gary Payton (7)
Toyota Center 18,219
3–1
5
April 28
Houston
W 97–78
Kobe Bryant (31)
Malone & O'Neal (9)
Kobe Bryant (10)
Staples Center 18,997
4–1 :
Conference Semi-finals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 2
@ San Antonio
L 78–88
Kobe Bryant (31)
Shaquille O'Neal (13)
Karl Malone (5)
SBC Center 18,797
0–1
2
May 5
@ San Antonio
L 85–95
Shaquille O'Neal (32)
Shaquille O'Neal (15)
Kobe Bryant (8)
SBC Center 18,797
0–2
3
May 9
San Antonio
W 105–81
Shaquille O'Neal (28)
Shaquille O'Neal (15)
Gary Payton (7)
Staples Center 18,997
1–2
4
May 11
San Antonio
W 98–90
Kobe Bryant (42)
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Karl Malone (6)
Staples Center 18,997
2–2
5
May 13
@ San Antonio
W 74–73
Kobe Bryant (22)
Karl Malone (12)
Gary Payton (7)
SBC Center 18,797
3–2
6
May 15
San Antonio
W 88–76
Kobe Bryant (26)
Shaquille O'Neal (19)
Bryant & Payton (7)
Staples Center 18,997
4–2 :
Conference finals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 21
@ Minnesota
W 97–88
Shaquille O'Neal (27)
Shaquille O'Neal (18)
Bryant & Fisher (6)
Target Center 19,552
1–0
2
May 23
@ Minnesota
L 71–89
Kobe Bryant (27)
Shaquille O'Neal (16)
Kobe Bryant (6)
Target Center 19,707
1–1
3
May 25
Minnesota
W 100–89
Bryant & O'Neal (22)
Shaquille O'Neal (17)
Gary Payton (9)
Staples Center 18,997
2–1
4
May 27
Minnesota
W 92–85
Kobe Bryant (31)
Shaquille O'Neal (19)
Kobe Bryant (8)
Staples Center 18,997
3–1
5
May 29
@ Minnesota
L 96–98
Kobe Bryant (23)
Shaquille O'Neal (13)
Kobe Bryant (7)
Target Center 20,109
3–2
6
May 31
Minnesota
W 96–90
Shaquille O'Neal (25)
Shaquille O'Neal (11)
Gary Payton (8)
Staples Center 18,997
4–2 :
NBA Finals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
June 6
Detroit
L 75–87
Shaquille O'Neal (34)
Malone & O'Neal (11)
Kobe Bryant (4)
Staples Center 18,997
0–1
2
June 8
Detroit
W 99–91 (OT)
Kobe Bryant (33)
Karl Malone (9)
Luke Walton (8)
Staples Center 18,997
1–1
3
June 10
@ Detroit
L 68–88
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Medvedenko & O'Neal (8)
Gary Payton (7)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
1–2
4
June 13
@ Detroit
L 80–88
Shaquille O'Neal (36)
Shaquille O'Neal (20)
Rick Fox (6)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
1–3
5
June 15
@ Detroit
L 87–100
Kobe Bryant (24)
Shaquille O'Neal (8)
Luke Walton (5)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
1–4 :
2004 schedule :

## NBA Finals
### Series summary

| Team/Game | 1 | 2 (OT) | 3 | 4 | 5 | Wins |
| Los Angeles | 75 | 99 | 68 | 80 | 87 | 1 |
| Detroit | 87 | 91 | 88 | 88 | 100 | 4 |
* (OT) denotes a game that required overtime.
The Finals were played using a 2-3-2 format, where the first two and last two games are held at the venue of the team with home court advantage. This was only used in the Finals.

### Background

The Lakers had a star-studded lineup that included offseason acquisitions Karl Malone and Gary Payton as well as mainstays Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. Malone and Payton were perennial All-Stars; Payton had led the Seattle SuperSonics to the Finals in 1996, while Malone's Utah Jazz reached the Finals in 1997 and 1998. However, both had been defeated by Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls. By 2003, Malone and Payton were in the latter stages of their respective careers and were no longer playing on championship-contending teams. Both Malone and Payton took pay cuts to sign with the Lakers in an effort to win a championship.

### Game One

Sunday, June 6, 2004, 14:30 at the Staples Center.
Detroit stunned Los Angeles with imposing defense. They held the Lakers to 39% shooting. Outside of O'Neal and Bryant, the rest of the Lakers only managed to score 16 points.
The Pistons trailed the Lakers 41–40 at halftime, but a 10–4 surge in the third quarter gave them the lead and they never relinquished it. By the fourth quarter, their lead had increased to 13.
Box Score
| Team | 1st Qt. | 2nd Qt. | 3rd Qt. | 4th Qt. | Total |
| Detroit | 22 | 18 | 24 | 23 | 87 |
| Los Angeles | 19 | 22 | 17 | 17 | 75 |

### Game Two

Tuesday, June 8, 2004, 15:04 at the Staples Center.
The Lakers led by eight after the first half. However, Detroit scored 30 points in the third quarter to keep the game close. With 2.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Kobe Bryant hit a three-point shot to tie the score at 89. The game went to overtime and the Lakers outscored the Pistons 10–2 to win their only game of the series.
| Team | 1st Qt. | 2nd Qt. | 3rd Qt. | 4th Qt. | OT | Total |
| Detroit | 16 | 20 | 30 | 23 | 2 | 91 |
| Los Angeles | 18 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 10 | 99 |

### Game Three

Thursday, June 10, 2004, 14:31 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
The Pistons beat the Lakers by 20 in their first NBA Finals appearance at The Palace of Auburn Hills since 1990 to take a 2–1 lead in the series. Karl Malone sprained his knee and was limited to 18 minutes. The 68 points scored by the Lakers set a franchise record for the fewest points scored in a playoff game. The previous night, a group of overzealous Pistons fans made it difficult for the Lakers to get their rest by harassing them until 4am at their hotel in nearby Birmingham. Fans were screaming outside the building until hotel management called the police.
| Team | 1st Qt. | 2nd Qt. | 3rd Qt. | 4th Qt. | Total |
| Los Angeles | 16 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 68 |
| Detroit | 24 | 15 | 24 | 25 | 88 |

### Game Four

Sunday, June 13, 2004, 14:49 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
The Pistons defeated the Lakers, this time by eight, to take a 3–1 series advantage. Shaquille O'Neal scored 36 points and grabbed 20 rebounds, but the rest of the Lakers shot 17/57 from the field.
| Team | 1st Qt. | 2nd Qt. | 3rd Qt. | 4th Qt. | Total |
| Los Angeles | 22 | 17 | 17 | 24 | 80 |
| Detroit | 21 | 20 | 15 | 32 | 88 |

### Game Five

Tuesday, June 15, 2004, 14:32 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
In Game 5, the Pistons won their first championship since 1990 and Larry Brown won his first title as an NBA coach. The Pistons defense had overcome the high-scoring Lakers offense, winning the game by 13 and the series 4–1. In four of the five games, the Lakers were held to less than 90 points.
After the series, Phil Jackson stepped down as coach (he would return for the 2005–06 season). Shaquille O'Neal was traded to Miami. Gary Payton and Rick Fox were traded to Boston. Karl Malone, who did not dress for Game 5, would have surgery on his knee and eventually retired the following February.
| Team | 1st Qt. | 2nd Qt. | 3rd Qt. | 4th Qt. | Total |
| Los Angeles | 24 | 21 | 14 | 28 | 87 |
| Detroit | 25 | 30 | 27 | 18 | 100 |

## Player stats
### Regular season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Kobe Bryant | 65 | 64 | 37.6 | .438 | .327 | .852 | 5.5 | 5.1 | 1.7 | .4 | 24.0 |
| Maurice Carter | 4 | 0 | 12.5 | .357 | .333 | .917 | .8 | .5 | .0 | .0 | 5.5 |
| Brian Cook | 35 | 2 | 12.6 | .475 | .000 | .750 | 2.9 | .6 | .5 | .5 | 4.4 |
| Derek Fisher | 82 | 3 | 21.6 | .352 | .291 | .797 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 1.3 | .0 | 7.1 |
| Rick Fox | 38 | 34 | 22.3 | .392 | .246 | .733 | 2.7 | 2.6 | .8 | .1 | 4.8 |
| Devean George | 82 | 48 | 23.8 | .408 | .349 | .760 | 4.0 | 1.4 | 1.0 | .5 | 7.4 |
| Horace Grant | 55 | 10 | 20.1 | .411 | .000 | .722 | 4.2 | 1.3 | .4 | .4 | 4.1 |
| Karl Malone | 42 | 42 | 32.7 | .483 | .000 | .747 | 8.7 | 3.9 | 1.2 | .5 | 13.2 |
| Stanislav Medvedenko | 68 | 38 | 21.2 | .441 | .000 | .767 | 5.0 | .8 | .6 | .3 | 8.3 |
| Shaquille O'Neal | 67 | 67 | 36.8 | .584 | . | .490 | 11.5 | 2.9 | .5 | 2.5 | 21.5 |
| Jannero Pargo | 13 | 0 | 4.8 | .375 | .500 | . | .5 | .8 | .2 | .0 | 1.1 |
| Gary Payton | 82 | 82 | 34.5 | .471 | .333 | .714 | 4.2 | 5.5 | 1.2 | .2 | 14.6 |
| Kareem Rush | 72 | 15 | 17.3 | .440 | .348 | .596 | 1.3 | .8 | .5 | .3 | 6.4 |
| Bryon Russell | 72 | 1 | 13.1 | .402 | .384 | .769 | 2.0 | 1.0 | .4 | .2 | 4.0 |
| Jamal Sampson | 10 | 2 | 13.0 | .478 | . | .583 | 5.2 | .7 | .2 | .4 | 2.9 |
| Ime Udoka | 4 | 0 | 7.0 | .333 | .000 | .500 | 1.3 | .5 | .5 | .3 | 2.0 |
| Luke Walton | 72 | 2 | 10.1 | .425 | .333 | .705 | 1.8 | 1.6 | .4 | .1 | 2.4 |

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Kobe Bryant | 22 | 22 | 44.2 | .413 | .247 | .813 | 4.7 | 5.5 | 1.9 | .3 | 24.5 |
| Brian Cook | 13 | 0 | 3.5 | .333 | . | 1.000 | .9 | .1 | .1 | .0 | .9 |
| Derek Fisher | 22 | 0 | 23.0 | .405 | .418 | .657 | 2.5 | 2.2 | .8 | .0 | 7.5 |
| Rick Fox | 16 | 3 | 9.1 | .400 | .143 | .500 | 1.4 | 1.1 | .2 | .1 | 1.1 |
| Devean George | 22 | 19 | 21.4 | .430 | .373 | .650 | 2.3 | .5 | 1.0 | .4 | 5.5 |
| Karl Malone | 21 | 21 | 38.0 | .450 | .000 | .630 | 8.8 | 3.4 | 1.1 | .1 | 11.5 |
| Stanislav Medvedenko | 21 | 1 | 11.3 | .440 | . | .810 | 2.5 | .5 | .2 | .2 | 4.0 |
| Shaquille O'Neal | 22 | 22 | 41.7 | .593 | . | .429 | 13.2 | 2.5 | .3 | 2.8 | 21.5 |
| Gary Payton | 22 | 22 | 35.1 | .366 | .250 | .750 | 3.3 | 5.3 | 1.0 | .2 | 7.8 |
| Kareem Rush | 22 | 0 | 14.3 | .385 | .400 | .667 | .7 | .8 | .5 | .1 | 3.7 |
| Bryon Russell | 6 | 0 | 2.7 | .000 | .000 | . | .2 | .3 | .2 | .0 | .0 |
| Luke Walton | 17 | 0 | 7.9 | .345 | .385 | .700 | 1.3 | 1.5 | .4 | .1 | 1.9 |

## Award winners

* Shaquille O'Neal, All-NBA First Team
* Kobe Bryant, All-NBA First Team
* Kobe Bryant, NBA All-Defensive First Team
* Shaquille O'Neal, NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award