The NBA Finals of 2001 saw the meeting of two of the greatest players in the league at the time: Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers. Both were on a mission to lead their teams to championship glory, and boy did they deliver.

The first game of the series was a showcase of Iverson's offensive brilliance. Against the formidable Lakers defense, he scored a jaw-dropping 48 points, including a series of dazzling crossovers and acrobatic finishes at the rim. Despite his heroics, however, it was the Lakers who emerged with a narrow victory, thanks in part to a 15-point fourth quarter performance from Bryant.

As the series shifted to Philadelphia, Kobe came alive. In Game 2, he erupted for 31 points, including a game-saving alley-oop dunk off a lob pass from teammate Shaquille O'Neal. But Iverson was not to be outdone, as he poured in 23 points and dished out 12 assists to help his team tie the series at one game apiece.

The real fireworks came in Game 3, which will go down in history as one of the most epic individual performances in NBA Finals history. With the series tied at 1-1, Bryant and Iverson engaged in an unforgettable scoring duel that had fans on the edge of their seats. Kobe was red-hot from the start, hitting an array of jumpers and slithering drives to rack up 8 quick points. Iverson, however, was not to be outdone. He scored 16 points in the opening quarter alone, electrifying the crowd with a barrage of deep threes and mid-range jumpers.

As the game wore on, the two legends continued to shine. Kobe finished with 32 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists, showcasing his all-around brilliance and clutch gene. Iverson, on the other hand, scored a game-high 35 points, including a jaw-dropping step-back jumper over Bryant in the closing minutes that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

In the end, it was the Lakers who emerged victorious, thanks to a game-winning three-pointer by Robert Horry. But the real winners were the fans, who witnessed a true battle of two of the game's greatest players. To this day, the Kobe-Iverson duel of Game 3 remains one of the most memorable moments in NBA history.