Vin Baker (24pts/10rebs) Game Winner vs Spurs (1998)

February 11 1998

Vin Baker battles with the San Antonio twin towers, David Robinson and Tim Duncan, to score 24 points and 10 rebounds on 12 field goals, his last being the game-winning bucket on a turnaround J over Robinson. Baker was automatic all game, scoring 24 on the two defensive stalwarts on all field goals with no trips to the free throw line.

In the 3rd quarter, after being taken out by coach George Karl, Vin Baker covered his face with a towel for almost 2 minutes. While Baker already was having a good game, with 16 points on 8 of 11 shooting, his team was losing versus the Spurs. No one but Baker will know what was going on inside his head or under that towel during that time, but when he was inserted back into the game, an unforeseen fire was lit in Baker, unleashing havoc on both ends of the court, building momentum for his Seattle team to mount a comeback on the Spurs in the 4th, and ultimately leading to Baker swishing the game winning basket. That, is why this video belongs on the Best Performances playlist. With all his faults and troubles, Vin Baker had heart. Nowadays, you would say he had that dawg in him. Heh.