Lakers Out Last Magic In Over Time Win 101-96; Lead Finals 2-0

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Finals, NBA Game Recap

After a bumpy ride in two consecutive Playoff series the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves up 2-0 in the 2009 NBA Finals after defeating the Orlando Magic in overtime Sunday by a 101-96 margin. Orlando had a chance to win the game in regulation but a drive by Courtney Lee fell short. Los Angeles put the contest away in the extra period. The Lakers were led by Kobe Bryant but the team from the “City Of Angels” really won the game at the other end of the floor.

Although the Magic got strong games from Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu and Dwight Howard Los Angeles shut the rest of the team down offensively. Orlando shot just 41.8% (33-79) from the floor for the night which is not about to win them an NBA Championship.

Although the match-ups worked in the Magic’s favor in the last series against the Cleveland Cavaliers they are by no dominating in the Finals. Rashard Lewis led Orlando with a game high 34 points after barely registering on the Richter Scale in game one. But once again Dwight Howard was held to 20 points against a Los Angeles team that was thought of as soft heading into this series.

This contest stayed close throughout with neither team covering themselves in glory in the first as the quarter ended with the two teams knotted up at 15-15. The Lakers would grab the lead at the half walking into the locker room on top 40-35. Orlando would have the hot hand in the third as they would have a 65-63 advantage as the period came to a conclusion.

But the two teams would end regulation once again deadlocked as they were at the end of the first this time with the score at 88-88. Dwight Howard led off the extra period with 3 points as he scored and was fouled on the play; then hit his shot at the line. But Los Angeles would score 9 unanswered points and the Magic never recovered.

Kobe Bryant knocked down 29 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals while Pau Gasol recorded a double-double with 24 points, 10 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. Lamar Odom had a big night off the bench as he scored 19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 assists and 1 steal while Derek Fisher added 12 points, 3 assists, 3 steals and 1 rebound.

Rashard Lewis recorded a double-double with 34 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 steal in the Magic loss. Hedo Turkoglu scored 22 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 block while Dwight Howard had yet another double-double with 17 points, 16 boards, 4 assists, 4 blocks and 4 steals. The series now shifts to the Amway Arena in Orlando for game three Tuesday.

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Comments

3 Responses to “Lakers Out Last Magic In Over Time Win 101-96; Lead Finals 2-0”

Greg on June 8th, 2009 4:30 am

I want to vomit. It looks like Bryant is going to finally win his championship w.o Shaq. Ah, the Magic have so disappointed me and there small window has closed for a NBA championship…
Good Evening & Good Linking 06/08/09 | The 5th Corner on June 8th, 2009 6:52 pm

[...] Dunk Central gives us his recap of the second game between Orlando and LA, which he entitled “Lakers out Last Magic“. The key to me will be game three, if Orlando can’t fight back they will go down in a [...]
basketbol nba on June 9th, 2009 5:31 pm

Go Hedo,beat LA Hedo made a huge block at Kobe but Dwight Howard’s bad performance(though bynum was sitting at the bench) gave the game to the lakers