Magic Misses Chance
The Orlando Magic offense came to life in game two of the NBA Finals Sunday night. But a chance to even their series with the Los Angeles Lakers slipped away.
Rashard Lewis dropped 34 points and Hedo Turkoglu hit 22 in game two, much better than there paltry totals of eight and 13, respectively, in game one.
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But the Magic lost in overtime at Los Angeles, 101-96, to allow the Lakers to take a 2-0 series lead. Game three is tonight in Orlando.
Twenty turnovers and seven missed free throws hurt the Magic. But what is being talked about more after the loss is a missed allie-oop shot at the end of regulation.
With the game tied 88-88, the Magic had a chance to win it. Turkoglu had a fantastic clean block on Kobe Bryant driving the lane. At first it looked like the fourth quarter would end on that play. The horn sounded with the score tied just after Turkoglu stuffed Kobe’s attempt from behind.
But the officials reviewed the play and ruled that Turkoglu had grabbed the ball and called timeout after the block. The officials put 0.6 back on the clock and the Magic had one final attempt in regulation.
Orlando Coach Stan Van Gundy drew up a beautiful play for the last attempt and it almost worked.
Magic rookie Courtney Lee used a screen near the free throw line to break free from his defender. He ran unguarded to the basket and Turkoglu lobbed an allie-oop inbound pass to Lee.
Laker Pau Gasol, a 7-footer with long arms, closed in on Lee as he went up for the allie-oop. Lee also slightly mistimed his jump and his momentum was carrying him under the basket as he released the ball.
Lee put up a bank shot but it was a little strong and bounced off the opposite side of the rim. Game still tied, into overtime we went.
The first three minutes of the extra period were tight. Orlando led 91-90 with 3:20 to go. Bryant hit a fade away jumper with 2:18 left to put the Lakers up by one, 92-91.
The Magic then came up empty on its next two possessions. First J.J. Reddick turned the ball over with a bad pass and on the next possession, Turkoglu missed a jump shot.
LA took advantage. First Derek Fisher made two free throws. Then Gasol made a layup and a free throw that followed. That put the Lakers up 97-91 with 1:14 left in OT.
The Magic scored five more points but were forced to foul. LA preserved the lead and the win with free throws. Gasol and Lamar Odom made two each to seal the win.
LA finished the game 24-28 from the charity stripe. Bryant was the top Laker scorer with 29, followed by Gasol with 24, Odom with 19 and Fisher with 12.
While Lewis and Turkoglu had a better games offensively for Orlando, Dwight Howard still struggled under the pressure from Gasol, Odom and Andrew Bynum.
Howard had 17 points and turned the ball over seven times. Turkoglu had five turnovers.
The home court should boost Orlando in game three. Unlike the earlier rounds of the playoffs, the Finals format is 2-3-2, which means games 3, 4 and 5 will be in Orlando.
So if Orlando can win game three tonight, they could start to build some momentum that could help them get back in this series.
But Kobe and the Lakers are not acting like a team ahead 2-0. Kobe was asked after game two if he was happy. Happy about what, he said. You are ahead 2-0, the reporter replied.
“The job’s not finished yet,” said Kobe, his face looking angry as if the Lakers were behind 0-2. The Lakers’ loss in last year’s finals to Boston still stings.
The odds are heavily against the Magic now. But you can bet they will not go down without a fight. Look for the Magic to light it up in game three, setting the stage for a real battle in game four.
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