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Lakers Win Game Four 99-91 in OT One Game Away From the NBA Title by jamestownjupiter.com Sports

06/14/09 01:54:56 am

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The Los Angeles Lakers come off the Game Three defeat 108-104, and Win Game Four 99-91 in Overtime. The Lakers get the win in spectacular fashion. Game 4 was the best game so far in the NBA Finals. With this win, the Lakers now go 3-1 in the series and are just One win away from the NBA Title. Kobe Bryant scores 32 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, 8-8 FT's.
This was a back and forth game early in the first quarter. Kobe starts the game with the first points of the game to give the Lakers a 2-0 lead. The Magics C Lee scores a three pointer at 10:00 to give Orlando a 3-2 lead. Its 4-4 at 9:05 with Howard going 1-2 on the FT's, and later in the game the FT's will be a difference maker. The first quarter was good with both teams playing toe to tie like two fighters sparing. Odom gives LA the lead at 8-7 at 7:30. The Magics Turkoglu scores next to give Orlando a 9-8 lead at 7:10 (710 am ESPN Radio I have been listening to that station all week).
One thing I noticed about the Magic is that they have a lot of players that used to play in the West, and those players are familiar with the Lakers style of play. Turkoglu is from the Kings, Alston is from the Rockets, Lewis used to play for the Sonics, and Pietrus used to play for the Warriors. Alston scores a three pointer to give the Magic a 12-8 lead at 6:13. Orlando had 3 turnovers to LA's 0 at this point. Kobe scores next on Pietrus off the glass and the Lakers down one 12-11. The teams opened this game going toe to toe. Alston comes back again and scores to give Orlando a 14-11 lead.
On defense Howard blocks T Ariza on the attempt and Alston on the Offensive end scores on a hook shot "sweet" lay up from the right side baseline play Magic up five 16-11. Lamar comes right back for 2 at 3:52 its 16-13.
The Lakers front court early gets into foul trouble with Bynum and Gasol each getting two early fouls. Gasols second foul comes at 3:44 in the first quarter, and on the FT's, D Howard misses both fouls shots. "I disagreed with the foul call on Gasol from that play".
The Magic with a five point lead at 18-13, MVP Kobe Bryant scores on a facial for his 3rd FG early to put the score 18-15. The Lakers Lamar Odom gets called for his 2nd foul and after the foul called, T Ariza while on the floor slams the ball in frustration and gets called for the "T" as the ball goes up high in the air. At this juncture all Lakers shot misses went to Howard as Howard had 11 rebounds with 1 point and 3 block shots at the 2:48 mark. Howard goes 1-2 on the FT's from Lamars foul to give the Magic a 20-15 lead. Jordan Farmar comes into the game off the bench. Kobe Bryant scores on 2 FT's, and the Lakers down three 20-17 at 1:39 Kobe now 5-5 at the foul line. Before the Game, Kobe was practicing his free throws, or putting more emphasis on the FT's after missing key free throws Game 3. Turkoglu scores next on a nice move Magic 22- Lakers 17. Walton for LA comes back, draws the foul on the shot, but makes only 1/2 on the FT's at 1:03 its 22-18.
The big play man for Orlando on Offense was Alston scoring next on a floater for his 9th point early to give the Magic a six point lead 24-18. Every play and Every Player for the Lakers made a contribution for the team Thursday Night. Mbenga on Defense gets the block shot, and on the offensive end, Kobe scores his 4th FG to make the score 24-20. In this game, minutes were important for Lakers bench players to come out and performs as the front court all had 2 fouls. The Magic outscore the Lakers by four 24-20 in the first quarter.
In between the first and second quarters, Coach Jackson on the brief TV interview complained of "bogous calls". Kobe Bryant carried the Lakers early going 4-7 from the field, and the rest of the Lakers were at 3-13 FG's.
2nd Quarter: With Orlando leading 26-20, D Howard on Offense gets called for an offensive three seconds. The Magic at this juncture had 7 turnovers to LA's 1. Walton scores next at 10:36 to bring LA within four 26-22. This 2nd quarter was an in your face kind of quarter with both teams going back and forth scoring hoops. The Magic's J Redick scores off the dribble giving Orlando a 28-22 lead at 10:18. J Powell for LA misses and Howard on that rebound gets his 12th board.
P Gasol scores his first FG at 9:35 in the 2nd quarter to bring LA within four at 28-24. Battie scores next for Orlando, his only two points of the game, and the Magic lead 30-24 at 9:15. The Magic continued the hot shooting from the field from the last game. J Farmar misses on the three point attempt, and at this point of the game, LA is 0-6 at 3 point FG's. Turkoglu scores next for his 12th point now is at 4-4 FG's at 8:26 the score at 32-24. The crowd started to get loud in the game. P Gasol comes right back to score for LA brings the score at 32-26. Orlando gets a nice play on offense with the alihoop play, and the largest lead of the game for Orlando now comes at 34-26 comes at the 7:56 mark.
Inserted into the ball game is Gortat #13. When Gortat first game into the game, I started to say "who is this guy Gortat, what is he doing on the floor in this game"? What a stiff and as I started to laugh next thing I knew Gortat provides some momentum coming off the bench. His appearance was funny that's all. Luke Walton next draws the foul, and on the first attempt, he misses the free throw. I cussed at the screen on that play especially with Kobe shooting foul shots before the game. Luke just flat out missed that shot, and I was offended by it. Luke goes 1/2 at the FT strip and at 7:49 the score is at 34-27. The Magics Lewis scores next on a quick 3 for his first long range shot gives the Magic a ten point lead 37-27 at 7:37. At 7:18 Fisher comes back into the game. LA scores only 9 points off Orlando turnovers.
Gasol starts to ball scores next for LA at 6:29 its 37-29. Big play for the Lakers on the Kobe Defense, he passes to Gasol and on the spin move left, Pau scores. Lamar Odom gets his 3rd foul next play as Turkoglu draws Lamar in the air on the pump fake.
Lakers call time out. Coach Jackson tells his team to stop the ball, and complains that its all penetration. At 5:47, the score at 38-29, the Lakers get a needed boost from A Bynum next where he scores his first FG to bring the score at 38-31 now at 5:23. The next play I almost flipped my lid, or got off my seat in disgust when Gortat scores on the slam dunk from the Redick pass at 5:00. The crowd is going wild in Orlando brings the score 40-31. Gortat or Gourmet? I had a problem with that dunk by Gortat, and I couldn't believe it. What the hell was that? Turkoglu comes back for Orlando and scores on the fast break, and the score goes to 42-31 at 4:29.
Soon after, I guess I wasn't the only person that was upset about what was happening on the floor, Coach Jackson gets called for a "T". Redick makes the 1 FT and the score is now 43-31 a twelve point lead. Gasol gets on the line next for LA and goes 1-2 brings the score to 43-32. Next play for LA was exciting as Gasol grabs the rebound passes to T Ariza and Trevor passes it to Kobe and Kobe scores on the 3 pointer brings the score closer to 43-35. That 3 was the beginning of the momentum switch as Orlando had the momentum, and LA just quieted the crowd. Bynum gets his 3rd foul at 3:52. At 2:46 Howard has 13 rebounds.
Orlando leads 47-37 at 49.2 seconds left in the quarter Fisher fouls. Howard again scores down low, and the score is at 49-37, and for LA Derek Fisher misses the 3 pointer on that possession as the 2nd quarter was drawing near. Orlando gets the last shot attempt, but Alston misses on that attempt, and the Lakers got out of that quarter down 12 points 49-37. The Magic outscore the Lakers 25-17 in the 2nd quarter.
Orlando was going for the even 2-2, and LA was going for the 3-1 series lead/cushion. At this point, Orlando had all the momentum. But the Lakers still had something special to do, and the performance we all saw Thursday Night was one of the most memorable basketball games one will always look back to. This game was about guts, and conditioning would be the biggest factor in this series later on during this contest.
Fisher scores the first basket for LA on the long range jumper, and LA within 10 the score at 49-39. Right back comes D Howard scoring on the hard slam dunk at 10:26, the Magic lead 51-39. On the AM 570 KLAC Broadcast, Spiro Didas says:"The Lakers have been pushed around tonight". Ariza makes a big play next gets the steal and on that play dunks it for his first basket at 9:40 the score 51-41. This was a good basketball game.
The Lakers defense starts to pick it up, and A Bynum on the good D gives LA back the ball, and Kobe Bryant drains the 3 pointer. How sweet that shot looked, and the score is 51-44. The Lakers are now coming back at this juncture, and you can feel it as a Lakers fan what was happening. Fisher fouls Lee at 8:58 for his third foul, and Lee goes 1-2 brings the score to 52-44. The free throws missed for Orlando started to add up, and rather than correcting that flaw in their game, they just didn't make the FT's. Sometimes, it looked like Shaq was at the line all the time, and one would forget that Shaq started his career at Orlando, and for laughs, it looked like deja vu, or at least Lakers fans would say that now they know where Shaq got his hideous free throw abilities and that is from Orlando.
On the Lakers comeback, Ariza scores again. This time Trevor scores on the floater, and LA closing in 52-46. The crowd now getting antsy. Turkoglu makes an incredible shot next falling out of bounce as the broadcaster on ABC said "an impossible shot" brings the score 54-46. Turkoglu for his 17th point was playing really hard this game like he has all series.
Another big play comes by T Ariza scoring next on the open 3=Good, and the score is now 54-49 at 7:58, and there is a time out for Orlando. Ariza scores 7 points in the 3rd quarter to lift the Lakers goes 1/2 at the FT line for his 8th point brings the score to 54-50. This is when the whole United States were able to watch what is Lakers basketball, and what Lakers basketball is all about. Bynum rebounds the Redick miss, and Ariza again comes through scoring on a 3 pointer "a left baseline 3" is good brings the score to 54-53. The Lakers balling like a wrecking machine, and I jumped out of my seat saying that's what's up, that's what's up! Trevor Ariza scores his 11th point in the quarter only 5.5 minutes in. Bynum scores next for LA on 2 FT's, and the Lakers have the lead at 55-54. The Lakers go on a 18-5 run get their first lead since early in the game now up 1 point at 5:38. Kobe misses on the offensive end next going 6-16 FG's at this point. Alston scores for Orlando next for his 11th point on the lay up to give the Magic a 57-56 lead at 4:59.
Sometimes it is the little things that make a difference later on in the game when the game is close. The next play for the Lakers is huge as Derek Fisher on the hustle play for the loose ball falls to the floor and after grabbing the ball calls time out at 4:39. Kobe makes the T next brings the score to 58-56 at 4:26. LA defense next forces Orlando to a three seconds call at 3:17.
Orlando was still playing, and this game 4 continued its path of the back and forth game with these two teams going toe to toe, and giving everything they had. One could appreciate the effort of the Orlando Magic. After playing these guys this many games, I don't see how Lebron James didn't shake the hands of the Magic players after the Eastern Conference Finals Series. The Magic have a lot of character. The next play was explosive for the Magic on the fast break, its Pietrus passing to Alston back to Pietrus for the score and the game is even 58-58. Fisher misses another 3 pointer (that is how I wrote the footnote). Gasol rebounds Alston's missed lay up. This was a back and forth game.
This game was all about who wants it more Game 4?
Lamar scores next for LA on the 3 pointer for his 7th point, and that brings the score to 61-58, the Lakers largest lead at 2:39 in the 3rd quarter. Redick comes back and converts on the 3 pointer, and that looked good evens the game at 61-61 at 2:09. Ariza has 13 points and what a play between Ariza and Kobe gives the Lakers a 63-61 lead. The next play was huge. Kobe steals the ball from Howard as he fought for the ball after the rebound, and takes the ball away from Howard at 1:28. That was the play where the Champion wanted the Game more, and that was the defining play for the Lakers under that crowd noise competing in this series. Howard and Kobe are talking to each other not taunting, just talking smack as the players walked to the other end for Kobe to shoot 2 FT's. Kobe converts on the 2 FT's brings the score to 65-61. Kobe is at 8-8 at the FT line.
With the Lakers up by 4 points, Howard passes it to Pietrus and scores brings the game to 65-63. Howard gets his 18th rebound on the Odom miss. Fisher steals the basketball giving Orlando its 16th turnover. The Lakers in the 3rd quarter played some feisty defense. Kobe Bryant holds the ball during the last stretch of the 3rd quarter, yo yo's up and down, leans in, pump fakes, and scores as he draws the contact at 4.7, and the Lakers lead 67-63. The Lakers lead at the end of the 3rd quarter 67-63. The Lakers outscore the Magic 30-14 in the 3rd quarter.
The Lakers going for the 3-1 Series lead in the 4th score first on a Lamar Odom ali oop to bring the score 69-63 the largest lead for LA. With the score at 69-65, D Fisher scores on a drive to the basket to bring the score at 71-65 at 10:15. Turkoglu draws the contract on Lamar Odom as Lamar fouls him at the three point line. Turkoglu makes 2/3 FT's and the score at 71-67 at 9:54. Farmar comes into the game, and Fisher goes out of the game for the Lakers.
Every defeat the Lakers have had in the post season, after that defeat the Lakers come back to win the next game. Pietrus comes running hard on the fast break, and slips and falls on the next play for the Magic. Ariza hustled on D on that play getting back to challenge the play. With the Lakers up by 4 points, Lamar gets his 5th foul at 9:07, and the score at 71-67. There is a Time out on the floor at 8:53 in the 4th quarter/Game.
Off that time out, Luke Walton converts on the 12 foot jumper in the key a step in front of the foul line to bring the score at 73-67. Pietrus grabs the momentum next scoring a three pointer, and that was a huge basket for Orlando to get the crowd back into the game brings the score 73-70 at 7:46. That 3 pointer gives Pietrus his 11th point. Kobe comes back and scores with Pietrus all over him, a facial with his foot on the three point line converts to bring the score at 75-70 at 7:10.
Both Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom have 5 fouls at 7:02 left in the game. Pietrus goes 1/2 at the FT line at 7:02. Now under 7 minutes left, at 6:46, its a 2 point game as Howard actually makes his FT's that round. Kobe misses down the offensive floor for the Lakers. Both teams players are playing with a lot of guts. Fatigue starts to play a factor in this game, and you could tell that fatigue was affecting Orlando more than LA at this juncture. This is why you condition your team in the preseason and during the season, and that is what gave the Lakers that boost in the last minutes of this game to remain competitive. Turkoglu misses an easy hoop from about the foul line key at 6:00. That was a play where fatigue looked like, or it seemed to be playing a factor now as Magic players were getting tired. The basket closed in, and it got smaller as the game progressed. That hot shooting the last 7 quarters, maybe more started to change, and the law of averages came into play at this point of the game with Orlando now missing from the outside.
Gasol on the next play misses on the spin move, and fatigue started to take its toll on Gasol at this juncture. After that miss, Pau really sucked it up the rest of the game. Pietrus comes back next and scores on Kobe, and draws the foul. This evens the contest at 75-75, and Pietrus converts the FT to give the Magic a one point lead 76-75 at 5:35. "Its nervous time" for sure. Pietrus was a big difference for the Magic able to bounce back from the Lakers onslaught of hoops. Pietrus kept challenging the Lakers, and that was the first Magic lead in the quarter.
It's crunch time. So far it has been a great series. Orlando's players are strong on every play. The Lakers are down 3 points 82-79 at 3:02, and like I said before conditioning is very important, and is playing a factor in the game now for both teams. Howard has 15 points, 20 rebounds, and 8 blocks.
Trevor Ariza makes yet another big play and basket scoring on the 3 pointer with 1 second left on the 24 second shot clock evens the game at 82-82. Ariza has 16 2nd half points, and what a big time shot.
Turkoglu scores next on the 3 pointer, the game going back and forth, for his 23rd point gives Orlando an 85-82 lead.
Under 2 minutes in the game, Gasol comes through big blocking Howard holding on defense. LA doesn't score from that, and right back comes Turkoglu again converting on the drive for a lay up after faking the 3 pointer gives Orlando an 87-82 lead. The Lakers call time out. Orlando now has all the momentum. Game 4?. 1:30 left, Kobe draws the blocking foul, but its not a shooting foul as Orlando had a foul to give. No calls on Orlando. At 1:14, Kobe misses the 3 pointer, and its now under a minute to play. Fisher on defense rebounds the miss, passes the ball to Kobe, Kobe to Gasol scores, and its now 87-84. That was a crucial play by the Lakers starters on defense, and then to quickly convert the FG.
Lakers defense, Kobe fouls Howard to put him at the free throw line at 11.1. Howard misses the first FT. Then Howard misses the second FT missing both FT attempts, and at 10.4 seconds to play the Lakers call time out with a chance to tie. Kobe has 28 points going 9-26 FG's, and 8-8 FT's.
The Lakers take the ball out full court, and the pass goes to Trevor Ariza where he splits the defense dribbling up court passes it to Derek Fisher on the right side, and without hesitation, Derek Fisher pulls up for 3, and makes it at 4.6 to even the score at 87. Jamestowncalif.com going wild, and the entire SoCal neighborhoods just erupted person by person all Lakers fans. Derek Fisher on that play just pulls up and its good from the right side on Nielson for his 1st 3 pointer in the game. Only Michael Jordan and Robert Horry have more 3 pointers made than Derek Fisher in the playoffs.
After the time out, the Lakers hold on defense, as Pietrus had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but does not convert, and with the score even at 87, we are going to Overtime. What a tremendous play by Derek Fisher, and what a comeback by the Los Angeles Lakers after being down by 12 points at half time to come back and force the OT. The Magic outscore the Lakers 24-20 in the 4th quarter. That was a big basket for the Lakers, and Derek Fisher comes through big time. That is why we are Lakers fans.
Its Overtime at 87-87. Howards FT misses were crucial to give the Lakers a chance to even the score. LA at Orlando Game 4 turned out to be one of the most exciting, well played, emotional, and memorable games I have watched in the NBA Finals history. Kobe scores the first hoop for LA in OT, its 90-89 Magic. Kobe also makes the second hoop converting on back to back baskets gives the Lakers a 91-90 lead at 3:25 in OT. Lakers D was aggressive still, and Gasol takes the ball from Lewis.
Under 3 minutes in OT, Kobe misses on the drive play. This is where fatigue did play a factor in the game for Orlando as Howard drives inside, gets the 2nd attempt chance, and Lewis misses on the drive next. Players were fatiguing. Under 2 minutes now, Kobe air balls the next shot attempt, and the whole United States saw it with the shot clock down to 5 seconds. Somebody left the Arena dprr Open? Its 91-90, and on that play it looked like the ball was touched by the Magic defender, but it was not called.
At 1:39 left in OT, Fisher grabs Howard as he was out of position gets called for the foul. Turkoglu misses on the drive, but on the loose ball play is fouled by Fisher for his 5th foul. At 1:27 Howard at the line for 2 FT's at 5-12 FT's misses the first, and then makes the second free throw, and the score is even at 91-91 with 1:20 in OT. Howard missing 7 FT's in a row and the Magic missing 15 in the game.
Next Ariza drives, misses, and Gasol taps the loose ball back to the back court, the Lakers at 1:01 call time out.
Both teams are fatiguing. Its LA ball. Orlando players at this juncture look like they are getting tired, or are tired. Kobe with 32 points misses, Gasol hustles for the loose ball, and Nielson gets called for the foul. Lakers ball.
And who said that lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place? Derek Fisher with the game even at 91-91 at 31.3 seconds left pulls up for a 3 pointer, and its GOOD. That Hoop I screamed louder than I would have seeing a stage dancer take off her top. Derek Fisher on the high arch top of the key attempt converts, and after Fisher makes the basket that smile came out. All of us were smiling after that basket Mr. Fisher. Kobe passes to Fisher and once again Derek Fisher comes through to bring the score 94-91. It's 96-91 after a three point shot attempt that was missed by Orlando, Turkoglu taps the ball back, and Gasol gets the ball and scores all alone on the dunk from the breakaway play an uncontested deuce.
At 21.6 seconds left, the Lakers D comes through again, and Pau Gasol gets the pass from Ariza and he dunks it at 3.4. Pau Gasol, What's up? I am going wild on Fisher's 3 pointers. Players have to be separated after Gasol gets fouled on that play. Pietrus gives Gasol a hard foul on that dunk play for the exclamation point. Gasol misses 1 FT, and the score goes 99-91. The Los Angeles Lakers hold the Magic Game 4 to win 99-91 in OT in one of the most memorable NBA Finals Games of all time. Derek Fisher is the MVP of the game for those 2 big 3's.
The difference of the game was the Lakers had a lot of second chance shot attempts. The Lakers were active on the offensive glass. The missed free throws by Orlando were another key difference. And the Lakers came through on Defense when they needed to. The play where Kobe Bryant took the ball away from Howard was huge, and the play where kobe fouled Howard to put him at the line at 11.1 also were big plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers win Game 4 by Eight points 99-91 to move 3-1 in the Series. Trevor Ariza's 2nd half performance was huge for the Lakers as Ariza makes 3 consecutive attempts which two shots were 3 point field goals. The Lakers are One Game away from the NBA Title.
Kobe Bryant leads all scorers with 32 points. Ariza and Gasol each scored 16 points, Fisher scores 12 points, Lamar scores 9, Walton and Bynum each score 6 points, and Josh Powell scores 2 points. The Lakers 38-91 FG's at 41.8%, 8-23 at 3 point FG's at 34.8%, 15-20 FT's at 75%. It came down to offensive rebounds where LA gets 10 to Orlando's 7. There were 12 lead changes, and 10 times this game was even. The Lakers outscore the Magic 12-4 in OT to win 99-91 Game 4. The Lakers go into Game 5 Sunday at Orlando looking to close out the series.
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re http://www.nba.com/games/20090611/LALORL/boxscore.html
This is a play by play synopsis
After Game 4, I will never talk smack about Derek Fisher again because those were some clutch three pointers. I have not seen that since Horry made that three to win against the Kings on the B Shower day 2002.