The Los Angeles Lakers returned home trailing 0-2 in the series.
Roger said he would nullify Shaq's efforts at the Staples Center, which was almost equivalent to declaring the end of the season for the Hawks at their last home game.
It was the perfect home finale—a tie, a game-winning shot, a disaster, turning the Philips Arena into a dream theater—the highlight was clear to everyone.
It was a game that left Los Angeles fans heartbroken, a game that added more flavor to Shaquille O'Neal's performance.
Now, that game had truly pushed the Lakers to the edge of the cliff.
They had to win Game 3; otherwise, the ensuing games would become meaningless.
Because winning four consecutive games in the finals was impossible.
If they had the strength to win four games in a row, they wouldn't have been down 0-3.
When the Hawks disembarked in Los Angeles, the local reporters almost swarmed them.
