Who played better in Game 2? Most people believe the Orlando Magic outplayed the Lakers. However, the team who plays the best doesn’t always win. Big plays at critical times decide the big games, and the Lakers were prepared when it meant the most. Orlando played a complete game and gave the Lakers all they wanted and more, but when it meant the most, Orlando was unable to finish the job. The Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic 101-96 in an overtime thriller to take a 2-0 series lead.
Orlando Came to Play
Game 2 of the NBA Finals began like a bad junior high basketball game. Neither team could find the bottom of the bucket. It looked like both teams had just walked out of an ice chest prior to taking the floor. The cold shooting by both teams helped to set a new NBA record. At the end of the first quarter the score was 15-15, which is the lowest combined first quarter total in NBA Finals history. The action picked up in the second quarter, but both teams were rather sloppy. However, Rashard Lewis for the Orlando Magic was on his game. Lewis had 18 on his 20 first-half points in the second quarter alone, and the Magic only trailed the Lakers by 5 at intermission...40-35. Kobe Bryant, looking to be a decoy and get more of his teammates involved, only had 6 points at the break. The third quarter however, saw Kobe on the attack. Bryant was more aggressive, and it seemed as though the Lakers would pull away in the third just like they had done in Game 1. However, the Magic came to play. Unlike Game 1, Orlando got solid scoring from the perimeter as Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu came up big. Orlando held a 65-63 lead as Game 2 entered the fourth quarter.
Late Game Drama
Lamar Odom had a strong fourth quarter for the Lakers, and the game went back and forth. Late in the contest, Hedo Turkoglu hit a huge basket as the shot clock was winding down which gave the Magic an 88-86 lead with 47.7 seconds left in regulation. On the ensuing possession, Laker guard, Derek Fisher, penetrated and found Pau Gasol for an easy bucket to tie the game. After an Orlando miss, the Lakers pushed the ball up the floor looking for a last second shot, but Kobe Bryant's jumper was blocked by Hedo Turkoglu. Orlando took possession of the ball with .6 seconds left and set up an out of bounds play. Hedo Turkoglu delivered a perfect pass to rookie, Courtney Lee, but he could not convert the layout, and Game 2 ventured into overtime. In the extra session, the Lakers took an early lead before Dwight Howard answered with a 3-point play to give the Magic a one point lead. Kobe Bryant responded with a clutch basket to shift the fortune back to Los Angeles. Following a key steal and clutch free throws by Pau Gasol, Kobe found Gasol in the lane and got a 3-point play of his own. This 3-point play extended the Laker lead to 97-91 with 1:14 left in overtime. Down but not out, Orlando made a late flurry thanks to a Rashard Lewis 3-pointer. Lewis, who had a game high 34 points, cut the lead to 99-96 with 26 seconds remaining. However, the “magic” would run out on Orlando as Lamar Odom iced the game from the foul line, and the Lakers took Game 2. Los Angeles will now take a 2-0 series lead to Orlando as the Magic will try to regroup and get back in the series in front of the hometown fans.
Key Statistics/Notes
Score:
Los Angeles 101 Orlando 96 (OT)
Field Goal Percentage:
Lakers 46%
Magic 41%
Free Throw Percentage:
Lakers 85%
Magic 74%
Points in the Paint
Magic 30
Lakers 28
Kobe Bryant
29 Points
4 Rebounds
8 Assists
Pau Gasol
24 Points
10 Rebounds
Lamar Odom
19 Points
8 Rebounds
Rashard Lewis
34 Points
11 Rebounds
7 Assists
Hedo Turkoglu
22 Points
6 Rebounds
4 Assists
Dwight Howard
17 Points
16 Rebounds
4 Assists
As we crack open the record book, we discover when the home team takes the first two games of a best-of-seven series they've been victorious 94 percent of the time. Only three times in league history has a team come back from an 0-2 hole...to win the series. Pau Gasol posted his 10th double-double in his last 11 games scoring 24 points and grabbing 11 boards. Rashard Lewis led the Orlando Magic with his playoff career-high of 34 points. With his fantastic performance, Lewis now holds the Orlando record for most points in an NBA Finals game.
Game 3 of the 2009 NBA Finals is Tuesday, June 9. All the action begins at 9:00 ET on ABC live from Amway Arena in Orlando.
