If Courtney Lee makes the layup, the series is tied at a game apiece. He had just missed a point-blank layup earlier with a little more than 20 ticks left in regulation. First of all, one would have expected Turkoglu or Lewis to have the ball in the last few seconds of what could have been a series deciding game.
But once the shot clock dipped to 8 seconds and ticking, Courtney Lee's options ran thin since every teammate was defended by a Laker. Lee attempted a high percentage shot by creating a path to the basket for a layup. But, he missed...time out Lakers. There's still about 9 seconds remaining and the game tied at 88.
Of course, the play to win game two is for Kobe who had every intention of going straight to the basket for a layup or attempt to draw the foul. But, the Magic made a great defensive play...specifically Hedo Turkoglu who Kobe flat out beat down the lane on his way to the basket.
But, Turkoglu stayed with the play and blocked Kobe's shot from behind. The ball trickled out of bounds off Kobe's leg and it was initially believed that time had run out with the game going into overtime tied at 88. However, after a check of the clock by the refs, .06 of a second was awarded, so to speak, to the Magic for an attempt to tie the series at a game a piece.
The Magic called a time out and Van Gundy gave his guys a play. The Magic had .06 of a second to win this game and head back to Orlando having won a split. After great defense by the Lakers prevented the Magic from an inbounds pass on the first try, the Magic used a second time out. Van Gundy reset the play and it's now or never for Orlando. The play they call is a lob for Courtney Lee...a play he says he runs all the time in practice with total precision.
The Magic run the play to perfection setting perfect screens, getting a perfect pass to Lee at the basket........................and he misses the layup...a hard bounce off the glass......much too hard. Closest defender to him is Pao Gasol who actually might have disrupted the shot.
Regardless, the Magic and Lakers go into overtime and the rest is history. The final in overtime, 101-96. The Lakers now have a 2-0 lead in this best of seven finals and now the series heads to Orlando for three.
Say what you want about Kobe Bryant. He's a winner who refuses to let his team to lose. And that's what seems to drive him despite the criticism he gets about his somewhat gruff atttitude. Kobe finished with 29 points. But, the x-factor for the Lakers Sunday night was Lamar Odom who torched the Magic for 19 points...off the bench. He did a lot of the dirty work. But, he was also that third long body on the boards, had 8 big rebounds, and defending and knocking down jumpers and getting to the basket for layups at critical points in the game. Pao Gasol was nothing short of brilliant as he would dominate in OT scoring 7 points, finishing with 29 total and 10 boards. The Lakers would have 4 players in double figures including Derrick Fisher with 12.
The Magic, on the other hand, played well. But, could not finish the job in regulation which might have led to their less than enthusiastic play in overtime. Rashard Lewis led Orlando with 34 points, followed by Turkoglu with 22. Dwight Howard finished with 17 points, 16 boards.
For many stretches in the game, particularly in the 4th quarter, the Magic played with a point guard...Jameer Nelson or Rafer Austin. Could be because they both were ineffective or Coach Van Gundy is not willing to deal with the controversy brewing about who should be playing.
Nelson was hurt in late January and was not able to return until the finals. Rafer, on the other hand, has been the leader of this team since that time and was a huge contributor during the series against the Cleveland Cavaliers...one of the reasons they won.
I don't understand why Van Gundy would disrupt the chemistry of what he had going for some unknown quantity. But, he's the coach.
The two will play again on Tuesday night in Orlando and this will be the best opportunity for the Magic to win a game. While they are not out of it yet, Sunday night would have been a nice "W" to have going back to Orlando.
Watch the highlights from Sunday night's game below.
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