NBA Finals - Lakers Scrape by with a Game 2 Victory

The Lakers managed to take a victory in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, but their performance brought more relief to Lakers fans than it elicited rejoicing. Their 25-point Game 1 rout of their opponents, the Orlando Magic, was a distant feat; the favored team barely maintained its advantage in the series with a 5 point lead in overtime, finishing the game 101-96.

In fact, overall, Game 2 proved rather lackluster. By the end of the first quarter, the Lakers and the Magic were tied 15-15, setting a NBA Finals record for the fewest combined points in an opening quarter. Neither team could boast outstanding performances.

Kobe Bryant, the Lakers’ resident basketball megastar, managed 29 points and 8 assists that were diminished by seven turnovers, three of which occurred in the fourth quarter. Nor could he manage to bring a victory in regulation; what’s more, his final stab in the fourth brought about a Magic layup that might have sealed Orlando’s victory.

“I didn’t think Kobe had a good game at all as far as his standards go,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson stated. “[The Magic] double teamed him, they trapped him, they came on all his drives, and we didn’t adjust to it immediately.”

Pau Gasol added 24 points – making 7 during overtime – and 10 rebounds, marking his 10th double-double in nearly as many games. Lamar Odom brought in 19 points for the Los Angeles team.

The Magic, on the other hand, may have made more than their fair share of gaffes, but at least they managed to avoid another 25-point loss. And several players managed to make breakthrough performances. Rashard Lewis proved to be Orlando’s surprise points leader, making 34 points overall and adding 18 of Orlando’s 20 second quarter points. In fact, Lewis ended the first half with three consecutive 3-pointers, bringing the score to 38-35. Dwight Howard also added 17 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals, but made only 1 in 4 shots and had 4 turnovers.

Overall, the Magic shot at only 41.8% and made 20 turnovers that led to 28 points.

“When I look at these numbers,” the Magic’s Coach Stan Van Gundy said, “it’s amazing to me that this was an overtime game.”

The Lakers made 24 of 28 free throws, and the Magic 20 of 27.

Despite the numbers, though, the Magic had a real opportunity to take the game and even out the series. Their chance came at the end of the fourth quarter. With 9.1 seconds left to play, the Lakers called a timeout. Odom caught an inbounds pass and sent it to Bryant, who then attempted a 12-footer that was blocked by Hedo Turkoglu from behind. Turkoglu grabbed the ball and shouted for a timeout just as the horn sounded.

Officials decided to add six-tenths of a second to the clock. Two timeouts later, the Magic finally managed to make an inbounds pass. Turkoglu lobbed the ball to Courtney Lee, who, with the help of Lewis, managed to dodge Bryant and attempt a layup.

If Lee had made a bucket, the Magic would have tied the series, gained home court advantage, astonished their friends, and stunned their enemies. If Lee had made the layup.

But he didn’t.

“It was very close,” Lee said after the game. “The ball rolled off the rim. … I just had to finish but I didn’t.”

“It was just a brilliant play,” Bryant admitted. “It was just a very, very smart play that he [Coach Van Gundy] drew up. He knew my eye was more on the shooters coming up.”

Instead of an Orlando victory, the game went into overtime.

In overtime, the Lakers’ Derek Fisher managed a steal reminiscent of Trevor Ariza in the Western Finals and scored two free throws after a foul, bringing the Lakers ahead by three. Then Bryant passed to Gasol for a layup and foul that gave the Lakers a six point lead.

Orlando’s Lewis made a three pointer, dropping the Lakers’ lead to three points, but Odom made two free throws with just over 20 seconds left to play. The Magic could not score on their final possession.

“It is most definitely heartbreaking,” Lewis said, “when you feel like you had a chance to win this game and you let it slip right out of your hands.”

The next game is Tuesday.