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Derek Fisher just killed the Magic's hope for a Finals title.
They were down by 3 with 10.8 seconds left. The Lakers had the ball, and they got it to Kobe. Nope, nothing there, out to Ariza. Nope, nothing there too. Fisher's open, and he takes two dribble and pops a 3...to a SWISH and ties the game up.
If that wasn't enough, early foul trouble should have led the Magic to dominating the game (and 1 2 points ahead at half isn't shabby) but with letting Ariza and the rest of the Lakers make the Magic into mincemeat in the 3rd quarter, all of a sudden they had a Lakers team that was on a roll and the Magic team and crowd dying in the wake of it.
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With the game at 87-87 a piece, OT rolled through and tied at 91 a piece, the OT period went through a painstaking (for both sides) minute and a half of NO scoring. With 31.3 seconds left, Fisher decided to make Magic remember why experience matters. After Kobe dishes it out, he sink a perfect three to lift the Lakers up 94-91. After Gasol dunks TWICE to seal the game, its looking everything but good for the Magic now. No team has come out of a 3-1 deficit, and with the Lakers now needing 3 games to win just one, with two at home? Time for the Magic, and Dwight to start practicing for next year.
Kobe Bryant finished with 11 for 31 shooting, 2 for 6 3 points, for a total of 32 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds. Gasol and Ariza had 16 points each, with a combined 19 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.
Dwight Howard finished with 16 points, 21 rebounds, and a beautiful 7 turnovers. Lewis had only 6 points (110$ million dollars, anyone?), while Turkoglu had 25 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Alston couldn't get it going like game 3, only having 11 points and 3 assists. You wonder why the Magic lost, looking at these stats.
Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
Check out the highlights from the game here, and game 5 goes underway on Sunday on ABC/ESPN (TSN for Canadian viewers) at 8 pm EST, 5 pm PDT.
PS - for Canadian viewers, have you guys seen the Cracked Canoe commercials? The clever ad hits all the soft spots, from reminicising, love, relaxation, and sports - for a premium light lager from Moosehead (which I'm pretty sure you've seen the "independent since 1867" MULTIPLE times throughout these past 2 months) that comes in at under 100 calories and 3.5% alcohol rating. Not bad for when a night of relaxation is needed.
EH
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