Dennis Neumann and Richie Adubato will answer the Magic Radio Internet question of the night during every game this season. E-mail your question to MagicRadio@orlandomagic.com. E-mailers could win a chance to sit courtside at a Magic home game with Dennis and Richie!
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | F | |
| LAKERS | 20 | 17 | 30 | 20 | 12 | 99 |
| MAGIC | 24 | 25 | 14 | 24 | 4 | 91 |
Video:
|
Now Playing: Postgame: Dwight Howard | More Videos |
|
Postgame: Stan Van Gundy
Postgame: Hedo Turkoglu
Finals Practice: Mickael Pietrus
Game 3 RecapRecap:
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Arms raised in triumph, Derek Fisher walked up the floor looking as if he had just landed the knockout punch.
He delivered two.
Fisher forced overtime with a 3-pointer with 4.6 seconds left in regulation and then drilled another with 31.3 seconds to go in overtime as the Los Angeles Lakers outlasted the Orlando Magic 99-91 in Game 4 on Thursday night to open a 3-1 lead in the NBA finals.
Kobe Bryant is one win from an NBA title to call his own.
The Lakers are one victory from title No. 15 and redemption for last year's loss to Boston.
Fisher got them there.
The 34-year-old known for a turnaround fling with 0.4 seconds left in a 2004 playoff game to beat San Antonio, called making the Magic disappear even better.
"It ranks right up there at the top,'' he said. "You know, even greater than 0.4 because I feel like we're as close as possible to what our end goal is.''
It was the first time since 1984, when Magic Johnson's Lakers and Larry Bird's Celtics hooked up, that two games in a finals have gone to overtime.
When the clock expired, Bryant, trying to win his first championship without Shaquille O'Neal, looked at Tiger Woods and wiped sweat from his brow in relief. Fisher, who has bailed out the Lakers in plenty of big games before, was hugged by every one of his teammates.
He had missed his first five 3s and promised teammate Pau Gasol he wouldn't miss again.
"He's been there before,'' Bryant said. "He has been there and done that.
"He just has supreme confidence and I think those shots at the end of the game are actually easier for him than the other ones.''
The Lakers, who improved to 7-0 following a loss in the postseason, can wrap up their first title since 2002 on Sunday night in Game 5.
Bryant finished with 32 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Trevor Ariza and Gasol each had 16 for Los Angeles, which came back from a 12-point halftime deficit. Ariza had 13 of the Lakers' 30 points in the third quarter.
Unless they can force a Game 6, the Magic will remember this as another finals game that got away.
Dwight Howard was magnificent everywhere but at the free-throw line. Orlando's superman of a center had 16 points, 21 rebounds and a finals-record nine blocks. But he made just 6 of 14 foul shots, and it was his two crucial misses with 11.1 seconds to go in regulation that doomed the Magic.
Orlando missed 15 free throws.
"I just missed them,'' Howard said. "I've been working on my free throws. They just weren't falling tonight.''
After Howard's late misses, Fisher pulled up and without hesitating dropped a 3-pointer over Orlando's Jameer Nelson with 4.6 seconds left to tie it 87-87. The shot stunned the Magic's maniacal crowd, which was hoping the home team could win its second straight finals game after dropping its first six.
"I just sensed that was the dagger,'' Fisher said. "That was the one that would put us in a position to close out the game even though the game wasn't over.''
In NBA finals history, only two players have made more 3s than Fisher's 40: Robert Horry (56) and Michael Jordan (42).
"It's character,'' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "We've always said the character has got to be in players if they are going to be great players. You just can't draft it.''
Just as they did in Game 2, Orlando had one final try, and this time guard Courtney Lee, who misfired on a tougher-than-it-looked layup in that loss, wasn't on the floor. The Magic inbounded the ball to Mickael Pietrus, but his long and contested jumper was off.
Bryant scored two quick baskets in the overtime, and Howard tied it when he split two free throws with 1:27 remaining.
On L.A.'s next trip, Ariza grabbed his own miss to get another 24 seconds and Fisher lined up and drilled his 3-pointer from the top of the key to make it 94-91.
As he retreated down court and Orlando called a timeout, the Lakers bench stormed onto the court and surrounded the popular Fisher, who came back to the team after stints with Golden State and Utah.
The Lakers spent the first half in foul trouble, complaining to the officials and generally out of sorts. Ariza, who the Lakers acquired from the Magic in a 2007 trade, was given a technical for slamming the ball to the court and Jackson got T'd up for shouting something from his high chair on L.A.'s bench.
Appearing in their 30th finals, the Lakers acted more like first-time visitors to a city choked with tourists.
"Fakers!'' yelled one Magic fan.
"Cry babies!'' screamed another.
The Los Angeles players and coaching staff slowly left the floor at halftime facing a 12-point deficit and seemingly in trouble.
They came back a different team.
After going just 1 of 10 on 3-pointers in the opening half, the Lakers made three straight 3s - two by Ariza - to start the second half, and when Bynum made two free throws with 5:58 left in the quarter Los Angeles was up 55-54, its first lead since 8-7.
Odom dropped another 3, Orlando's J.J. Redick matched it and the Lakers forward made a layup to give Los Angeles a 63-61 lead.
On Orlando's next possession, Howard grabbed a rebound just outside the lane that Bryant wanted more. Reaching in, he tore the ball from Superman's powerful grip and then broke free from his Olympic teammate, who grabbed him around the waist.
Bryant, Fisher and the Lakers, shooting for redemption after losing to Boston in last year's finals, wouldn't be denied.
Comeback commandos in these playoffs, the Magic now must put together their biggest rally.
They've been rallying all spring. They twice trailed Philadelphia in the opening round before sending the 76ers off to summer camp. Then, they fell behind Boston 3-2 but stormed back and dethroned the defending champions in a Game 7 on the road.
Given little chance against Cleveland, they toppled King James in six games and wrecked the Kobe-LeBron dream finals.
They didn't come close to matching their record 63 percent shooting effort in Game 3 and now must beat the Lakers three straight to win it all.
"This is the toughest one because it puts us down two games and on the brink of elimination,'' Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said.
NOTES: Among the celebrities on hand: Tiger Woods, Dwyane Wade and Hulk Hogan. Hogan came up from behind and scared the unsuspecting Woods. ... Bryant (707) passed Dennis Johnson (676) for 16th place on the finals scoring list. Next up is Bob Pettit (709).
Back to top
Live Baseline Blog:
Back to top
Preview:
ORLANDO (AP) -- No athlete on the planet - well, at least on this side of the putting green from Tiger Woods - closes quite like Kobe Bryant. He's the ice-in-his-veins killer. The Terminator. The one you call to finish the job. Mr. Clutch.
He owns the fourth quarter.
Most of the time.
But in Game 3 of the NBA finals on Tuesday night, Bryant, looking tired and mortal, gave new life to the here-they-come-again Orlando Magic, who shot a finals record 63 percent in a 108-104 win over the Los Angeles Lakers and snapped an 0-for-6 franchise mark in the finals.
With the Lakers eyeing a chance to open a 3-0 series lead and with a fourth title that he has obsessed about almost within his reach, Bryant slipped up.
Woods, arms folded on his chest, sat courtside and watched Bryant falter.
The Magic saw it, too. They don't expect to see it again.
"We have to understand,'' Magic guard Rafer Alston said as the teams worked out in preparation of Thursday's Game 4. "He's not one to let it happen on back-to-back occasions.''
Bryant and the Lakers have been bouncing back since the start of the postseason. Pursuing a 15th NBA crown one year after losing to the Boston Celtics, they are 6-0 after a playoff loss. They can regain control of the best-of-seven series, but they'd better be careful not to give Orlando any more momentum.
As they showed in Game 3, the Magic can shoot holes through any dream.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson feels his team can do more defensively to stop the Magic's marksmen, but sometimes nothing can be done when shots are dropping.
"You've got to give credit where credit is due,'' he said. "They hit shots.''
Bryant came out intent to land a knockout shot in Game 3. He eased into the offensive flow, but then went on a tear, scoring 17 points in the final 5:41 of the first quarter. At halftime, he had 21 and although the Magic were shooting an unconscious 75 percent, the Lakers trailed by only four points.
But in the second half, Bryant, who because of his commitment to USA Basketball has been playing nearly nonstop for three years, wore down. He shot just 3 of 10 from the field and missed four free throws. In the fourth quarter, normally his signature time, he went 2 of 6, missed all three 3-point attempts and had the ball stolen on a crucial possession in the last 30 seconds.
On Wednesday, Bryant, who has been alternately surly and serene with the media throughout this series, took offense to the notion that he had "hit the wall'' in the fourth quarter.
"As far as me hitting the wall, so what if I did?'' Bryant wondered. "I didn't, but so what if I did?''
What does it mean if you did?
"It means nothing,'' he countered.
Because?
"Because I'll run straight through it.''
Jackson knew his superstar was fatigued in Game 3 and sat him for nearly five minutes at the start of the fourth quarter so he would have energy in the closing minutes. But the cumulative effect of Orlando's defense and Bryant working so hard early on caught up to him.
The Lakers aren't used to Kobe not being Kobe with the game on the line.
"Am I surprised?'' center Pau Gasol said. "I guess you could say that because most of the time he is effective and does finish well. "That's why everybody talks about him being a clutch player, which he deserves and earned. The last game really didn't go that well, but we expect the next game to be a different story.''
Following Games 1 and 2, it appeared this series matching one of the league's most famed franchises and a relative upstart would be a brief one. The Magic had made their way to their first finals since 1995 on the strength of Dwight Howard's inside game and superior outside shooting. But in L.A., Orlando was just O.K.
However, back on their home floor and in front of their frenzied fans, the Magic shot like no team in 360 previous finals games.
During one stretch in the opening half, Orlando made a remarkable 21 of 24 shots.
Like nearly every afternoon in steamy Central Florida, the Magic can heat up in a hurry. Yet despite having two records set against them and not playing with discipline on defense, the Lakers only lost by four points. They missed 10 free throws and had some costly turnovers.
But this loss stung, and Bryant, who characterized his late-game performance as "disappointing,'' said he and his teammates are not taking any consolation from their close call.
The Magic, who made an NBA record 23 3-pointers in a win at Sacramento in January and dropped 17 3s on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals, can shoot the lights out again.
"They're in this position because they shoot the ball well,'' Bryant said. "It's not something that is just a fluke or one game where they got hot. I mean, they get hot and stay hot. When that happens, you're dealing with a monster.''
Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy had no explanation for his team's record-setting shooting spree. The Magic shot just 29.9 percent in Game 1 and 41.8 percent in Game 2.
"Our ball movement was good, but I don't care how good your ball movement is and the quality of shot you get,'' he said. "You're not going to put the ball in the basket at that rate very often. But it's one of those nights, thankfully, that a lot of shots went down.''
As Van Gundy concluded his mandatory media interview session, a moderator announced that the Magic's practice would be open for 30 minutes.
"No practice,'' Van Gundy hollered as he left the dais. "But you can watch them shoot around.''
As if they need the work.
Back to top
Game Notes:
NBA Finals 2009, Game 3 – June 9 vs. L.A. Lakers – Magic 108, Lakers 104: Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis led a balanced Magic attack with 21 points each, as Orlando defeated Los Angeles, 108-104, in Game 3 of the NBA Finals at a sold-out Amway Arena. The Lakers still lead the series, 2-1. Orlando shot an NBA Finals-record 62.5 percent from the floor (40-64), including a Finals record 75 percent (24-32) during the first half. Rafer Alston poured in 20 points for the Magic, while Mickael Pietrus added 18 points off the bench. Kobe Bryant scored 31 points to lead the Lakers, while Pau Gasol added 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the field. Bryant had 17 points during the first quarter alone, helping Los Angeles grab an early 31-27 edge. However, the Magic responded in the second quarter, outscoring the Lakers 32-23 and led 59-54 at halftime. During the fourth quarter, the Lakers went on a 17-8 run and tied the game at 99 with 2:41 left following a pair of free throws by Gasol. However, the Magic never relinquished the lead and got back into the series.
NBA Finals 2009, Game 2 – June 7 @ L.A. Lakers – Lakers 101, Magic 96 (OT): Kobe Bryant scored 29 points, while Pau Gasol added 24 points and 10 rebounds, as the L.A. Lakers edged Orlando, 101-96 in overtime, in Game 2 of the NBA Finals at the STAPLES Center. The Lakers lead the series, 2-0. Lamar Odom scored 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field for Los Angeles. Rashard Lewis led the Magic with 34 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Hedo Turkoglu scored 22 points and Dwight Howard tallied 17 points, 16 rebounds, four steals and four blocked shots. After trailing at halftime, 40-35, Orlando outscored Los Angeles during the third quarter, 30-23, and took a 65-63 edge heading into the fourth. With 47.7 seconds left in regulation, Turkoglu hit a long jumper to give the Magic an 88-86 lead. The Lakers tied the score on a Gasol layup with 33.5 remaining. After consecutive misses by both teams, Orlando had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but a layup on an alley-oop by Courtney Lee would not drop, forcing overtime. In the extra session, the Lakers went on a 9-2 run, keyed by seven points from Gasol, and escaped with the win.
NBA Finals 2009, Game 1 – June 4 @ L.A. Lakers – Lakers 100, Magic 75: Kobe Bryant poured in a game-high 40 points, as the L.A. Lakers routed Orlando, 100-75, in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at the STAPLES Center. Pau Gasol scored 16 points for the Lakers, while Lamar Odom added 11 points and 14 rebounds. Mickael Pietrus led the Magic with 14 points, while Dwight Howard added 12 points and 15 boards. The Magic shot a playoff-low 29.9 percent from the floor and were outrebounded, 55-41. Orlando held a 33-28 lead early in the second quarter, but Los Angeles finished the first half with a 25-8 run and led 53-43 at halftime. The Lakers then outscored the Magic in the third quarter, 29-15, and never looked back. Los Angeles led by as many as 28 points during the second half.
L.A. Lakers (NBA Finals 2009): Orlando is 11-30 all-time vs. the L.A. Lakers (7-14 at home, 4-16 on the road) during the regular season, including 2-0 this season… Orlando went 0-2 last season against the Lakers...The Magic have lost 16 of the last 21 games in this series…Orlando has lost eight of the last 11 meetings at home, and snapped a 10- game losing skid at Los Angeles on Dec. 2, 2007 (104-97)… Dec. 20 vs. L.A. Lakers – Magic 106, Lakers 103: Jameer Nelson continued his red-hot play, leading the Magic with 27 points, as Orlando overcame a 10-point deficit and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 106-103, at a sold-out Amway Arena. It was the fourth consecutive win for the Magic and their sixth straight at home. Rashard Lewis scored 22 points, while Dwight Howard tallied 18 points and 12 rebounds. Kobe Bryant led all scorers with a season-high 41 points. The Lakers led 58-49 at halftime, as Bryant scored 25 first half points. Orlando opened the third quarter with a 9-2 run and took an 85-84 edge heading into the fourth quarter, after Nelson scored 15 points during the frame. Trailing 104-103, the Lakers got the ball back, but Sasha Vujacic missed a three-pointer from the corner with 3.9 seconds left. After Howard converted a pair of free throws, Los Angeles had one final shot. However, Bryant’s long three-point shot was off the mark and the Magic escaped with the win. Orlando held the Lakers to just 41.4 percent shooting from the field and overcame missing 15 free throws… Jan. 16 @ L.A. Lakers – Magic 109, Lakers 103: Jameer Nelson scored 28 and Dwight Howard poured in his fourth 20-point, 20- rebound performance of the season as the Orlando Magic swept the season series with the L.A. Lakers for the first time in franchise history with a 109-103 win in Los Angeles. Nelson took control of the game late in the fourth quarter, scoring 10 of the Magic’s final 12 points, including two three-pointers and four free throws over the final 1:26 to extend Orlando’s winning streak to six games. The Magic, who outrebounded L.A. 54-40, held the Lakers to below 40 percent shooting in the game despite Kobe Bryant’s triple-double performance of 28 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists.
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. LAKERS: 46 pts., Shaquille O’Neal (@ Orlando, 3-8-95)
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. MAGIC: 41 pts., Kobe Bryant (@ Orlando, 11-12-04, @ Orlando, 12-20-08)
Back to top
