Orlando Magic
The able to recover their losses in last year’s NBA finals this Sunday. The Magic beat the Lakers 96-94 in a close game. The guard Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant has a chance to change the outcome, but failed critical three-pointer in the final seconds. Vince Carter and Dwight Howard both gave strong contributions to their team, scoring 25 and 15 points, respectively. The rest of the starters scored more than 10 points each. This is the Lakers’ (46-18) third consecutive loss, it is the first time since January 2008 that LA suffered through this kind of losing streak. The Magic (44-20), on the other hand, has added a fifth straight win and second place in the Eastern Conference. In the first quarter, both teams exchanged baskets in the first three minutes, the game tying three times. However, as the minutes passed, Orlando became more determined to take strong leadership, and with a 11-7 run, the team was in the score 31-24. Insecond quarter, Marcin Gortat and Mickaël Pietrus gives Magic a good start, extending their lead to ten points, 38-38.
Minutes later, the Lakers responded with a 8-2 run, so the score became 40-36 with 6:37 left. But Orlando responded with some great pictures, moved to 46-38. At the end of the quarter, Derek Fisher added two three-pointers and Pau Gasol basket, and the Lakers ended the quarter down only four points, 52-48. Coming from a part time, the battle continues. Lakers try to cut their disadvantage while the Magic struggled to increase their lead. Basket comes in the confusion and Orlando could strengthen to 12-point advantage with 47.5 seconds left in the third. However, Howard violated Gasol with 27.8 seconds remaining. The Spaniard scored two free throws and closed the quarter with LA down 10 points, 74-64. During the last quarter, the Lakers are determined to cut harmful, in fact, they started to run 10-3. They managed to bring the distance up to 3 points. The duel began between Carter and Howard, who produced for the Magic on the one hand, and Bryant and Gasol to the Lakers on the other side. staggeringly score near the end, Bryant has added two three-pointers and jump shots to put the Lakers on his back with only one point with 12.9 seconds left on the clock. But Brown, in the summer time, make no mistake: violation with 9.7 seconds left, Carter provides an opportunity to score two free throws.
Carter missed the first but made the second. Lakers still have a chance to tie or win the game. In the final play, but Bryant missed shots. The game ended 96-94 to support Magic. After the game, Kobe insisted that his team had played better against Orlando than in two previous matches. Despite the decline in the game, the Lakers gave a strong fight to the end. “Two of the last game (at Miami and Charlotte) we did not play with a sense of urgency to compete. Tonightwe do. We played very, very hard, we just missed some things defensively. But all in all, we were able to maintain our defense in the game, “Bryant said of the best scorers for Orlando is Vince Carter with 25 points and three rebounds, Dwight Howard. With 15 points and 16 rebounds, Jameer Nelson with 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, Rashard Lewis with 12 points, six rebounds and three assists, and eventually Matt Barnes with 10 points and six rebounds for the LA Lakers are the best scorers is Kobe Bryant with 34 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.; Pau Gasol with 20 pts and 11 rebounds, and finally Derek Fisher with 11 points.