The Orlando Magic have come so close to beinig up three games to one in the series, but two overtime losses have them on the opposite side of the ledger and now down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.
Derek Fisher sank a pair of clutch three-pointers, one to force overtime and another in the extra session that gave Los Angeles the lead for good, as the Lakers overcame a 12-point halftime deficit to take a commanding lead in the NBA Finals with a 99-91 triumph against Orlando.
Kobe Bryant led the way with 32 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as LA captured a hard-fought victory.
Dwight Howard was magnificent everywhere but at the free-throw line. Orlando's superman of a center had 16 points, 21 rebounds and a finals-record nine blocks. But he made just 6 of 14 foul shots, and it was his two crucial misses with 11.1 seconds to go in regulation that doomed the Magic.
Orlando missed 15 free throws.
The series resumes Sunday night with game five from Orlando.
FAST FACTS (from ESPN.com)
--The Lakers grabbed a 3-1 series lead and snapped a 7-game road losing streak in the NBA Finals.
--Derek Fisher missed his first five 3-pointers of the game, but made his final two to provide a huge boost for the Lakers. The first forced overtime with under five seconds remaining, and the second broke a tie with just over 30 seconds left in that extra period.
--The Magic fell to 0-2 this series when leading after the first quarter.
--Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 32 points and eight assists, his 63rd career 30-point playoff game (most among active players). He has recorded eight or more assists in six straight playoff games, becoming the second Laker (Magic Johnson) to accomplish the feat.
--It was the first time since 1984, when Magic Johnson's Lakers and Larry Bird's Celtics hooked up, that two games in a finals have gone to overtime.
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nba finals, nba playoffs, lakers, magic, kobe bryant, dwight howard, derek fisher