NBA Playoffs: 30 best Game 7 performances in NBA Playoffs history
Best Game 7 performances in NBA Playoffs history: 26. Pau Gasol (2012)
Stat line:
- 23 points
- 17 rebounds
- 6 assists
- 4 blocks
It was rare but when Kobe Bryant donned the purple and gold, the Laker universe didn’t always revolve around him. At times, All-Star Pau Gasol stepped out of his shadows and stole the spotlight from underneath his nose. And during a tough first round matchup in the 2012 NBA Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets, Gasol made Bryant take a backseat.
Always known for his overall skills and touch around the basket, Gasol made sure it was a long night for the Nuggets. He poured in 23 points, a team-high, and pounded the glass for 17 rebounds. Gasol didn’t just sit around and wait for the opposition to miss shots to scoop up easy boards, whenever his teammates put the ball up, he immediately went down low to clean up any misses. That mentality allowed him to grab 11 offensive rebounds. Even with his rebounding and scoring contributions, Gasol didn’t forget about his defensive and playmaking responsibilities. The big Spaniard registered six assists and rejected four shots.
Even Kobe Bryant had no choice but to jump on Gasol’s back and ride him to the finish line.