The Los Angeles Lakers have taken a 3-1 series lead on the Orlando Magic after a 99-91 overtime victory in game 4 of the NBA Finals. The hero of the game was Derek Fisher.

 

Fisher hit two key 3-pointers--one with 4.6 seconds left in regulation, the other with 31.3 seconds to go in overtime. Fisher was an unlikely go-to guy as he was 0-5 on 3-pointers until the fourth quarter of the game. Fisher looked every bit of his 34 years in the 2009 Playoffs, but the young Derek Fisher showed up when it counted.

 

"He's been there before,'' said Kobe Bryant. "He has been there and done that. That's Derek. He just has supreme confidence and I think those shots at the end of the game are actually easier for him than the other ones.''

 

The Lakers were down 3 points in regulation with possession of the ball and 11 seconds on the clock. Orlando's Jameer Nelson failed to guard Derek Fisher who stepped into an easy 3-pointer that tied the game and forced overtime. The Magic were pummelled in overtime only scoring 4 points while L.A. scored 12.

 

"I just sensed that was the dagger,'' Fisher said. "That was the one that would put us in a position to close out the game - even though the game wasn't over.''

 

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy regrets not fouling Fisher.

 

“It was my decision with 11 seconds not to foul,” he said. “Yes I regret it now. That one will haunt me forever."

 

None of this would be an issue if the Magic had made their free throws. The Magic missed 15 free throws in game 4. Dwight Howard and Hedo Turkoglu missed critical free throws that may have changed the outcome of the game.

 

"I just missed them,'' Howard said. "I've been working on my free throws. They just weren't falling tonight.''

 

Howard was awesome in game 4 scoring 16 points, grabbing 21 rebounds, and setting a Finals record with 9 blocked shots.

 

Orlando has to be mentally defeated. After playing a stellar first half they crumbled in the second half digging themselves a 1-3 hole.

 

"There's no reason for us to hold our heads down,'' Dwight Howard said. "We will believe until there's no more games to be played.''

 

Game 5 takes place Sunday on ABC.

NBA Examiner