2009 NBA Finals: Lakers at Magic, Gm 4 part 12/15

Game 4 - Lakers 99, Magic 91 (OT)

For the second time in the series, the two teams were tied after regulation, forcing an overtime period. It was the first time since 1984 that two games in the same Finals series went to overtime. And for the second consecutive year, the team trailing 2-1 in the series held a double-digit lead at halftime, before losing Game 4. This time, it was the Lakers on the winning side, defeating the Magic and taking a commanding 3-1 series lead.

At the start of the game, the Lakers won the opening tip for the first time in the series, on a jump-ball violation by Dwight Howard. However, the Magic controlled the game early, behind the strong defensive play of Dwight Howard. Orlando's center finished the first quarter with 11 rebounds and 3 blocked shots, giving the Magic a four-point lead, despite 13 points from Kobe Bryant.

Orlando extended its lead to 12 points at the half, outscoring the Lakers 25-17 in the second quarter. Los Angeles shot just 33.3% in the first half, making just one of its 10 attempts from 3-point range.

The game turned drastically in the third quarter, when the Lakers opened up on a 20-7 run to take the lead for the first time since the early minutes of the game. The Lakers ended up outscoring the Magic 30-14 in the third quarter, with Trevor Ariza leading the way with 13 points. Los Angeles led 67-63 heading into the final 12 minutes.

With the game tied at 82, Turkoglu scored five consecutive points to put the Magic up 87-82. The Magic led by three with 11.1 seconds left, when Howard stepped to the line and missed both free throws. Derek Fisher, who had been 0-5 on three-pointers, made a shot from the wing, tying the game with 4.6 seconds left. Mickael Pietrus missed a jumper at the buzzer that would have won the game, forcing overtime.

Rashard Lewis opened the scoring in overtime with a three from the side, but Kobe Bryant responded with back-to-back baskets to give the Lakers a one-point lead. It was nearly two and a half minutes before either team scored again, when Howard made one of two free throws to tie the game at 91. Fisher struck again, making a 3-pointer to put L.A. up by three with 31.3 seconds left. Pau Gasol scored the last five points of the game for the Lakers, giving them an eight-point win.

Kobe Bryant led all scores with 32 points, moving up to 7th on the NBA's single-season postseason scoring list. Bryant also had eight assists for the sixth straight postseason game. Pau Gasol and Trevor Ariza added 16 each for the Lakers, with all of Ariza's 16 coming after halftime. Hedo Turkoglu led the Magic with 25 points, but was shut out in overtime. Dwight Howard had 16 points, 21 rebounds and a Finals single-game record nine blocks, but shot just 6-of-14 from the free throw line.

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Sports

Tags:

• 2009
• NBA
• Finals
• Magic
• Lakers