All in all, I'm surprised Orlando held on and beat the Lakers (108-104) to clip the Lakers' advantage to 2-1 in the best-of-seven tilt tonight in Orlando.
The Magic played, I think, about as well as it is capable over 48 minutes while shooting 63 percent from the field -- and still needed Kobe Bryant to go chilly from the field after he hit eight of 11 shots in the first half (for 20 points) in order to pull the thing out on its home court.
It wouldn't surprise me to see the Lakers bounce back and wrap the thing up in Game 5 on Sunday in Orlando.
I don't think Bryant will got 11 of 25 from the field -- and, startlingly, five of 10 from the free-throw line -- again like he did tonight.
Orlando got solid (or better) efforts from each of its starters as well as sixth man Mickael Pietrus -- and still won by just four points.
The Lakers need to improve their play Thursday night but are still well in control of the series.


Leave a comment