Hooped Up

Right behind Robert Horry and Michael Jordan. Derek Fisher is the other guy you don’t want to leave open for a three-point shot especially in the clutch. Too bad the Orlando Magic got that memo a tad late.

This game was over at the half and Josh Powell and DJ Mbenga sightings confirmed that, with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum in foul trouble but somehow the Magic still dropped the ball and let the Lakers creep up on the side of them to steal game 4. In the third quarter the Lakers outscored the Magic 30 – 14 closing the deficit at half and then finally in the fourth with 04.6 left on the clock. Fisher hit his first three of the game to force overtime and then he hit another three to put the Lakers ahead for good to seal the game.

Both threes Fisher took were huge, but the truth of the matter is that Orlando had the game in their back pocket with less than a minute to play and they blew it big time. With a chance to ice the game up by three in the fourth quarter with 11 seconds left, Dwight Howard blew a pair of free-throws that were Nick Anderson like in appearance.

Kobe Bryant finished with 32 points, 8 assist and 7 rebounds while Pau Gasol and Trevor Ariza finished with 16 points a piece and combined for 19 rebounds for the Lakers.

Dwight Howard had a huge game tallying 16 points, 21 rebounds and 9 blocked shots in a losing effort.

Game 5 happens Sunday and the Lakers with a win could raise the Kyonite laced Larry O’Brien trophy to become the NBA champs for the 15th time.