Orlando refused to enter a must-win-situation zone as the Magic defeated the Lakers by a score of 108 to 104, giving Orlando not only its first victory in this year’s NBA Finals, but also its first victory in NBA Finals history.
Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis each scored 21 points for Orlando as the Magic pull to within one game of the series.
Orlando shot a finals record 62.5% from the field, including 75% in the first half, to avoid a three-game deficit that no NBA team has successfully come back from.
Kobe Bryant scored 31 points for Los Angeles, but scored just 10 in the second half; he was 4-of-15 from the field after the first quarter. He also missed five free throws during the game.
Rafer Alston scored 20 for the Magic while Hedo Turkoglu and Mickael Pietrus each added 18.
“We’ve got to play like this,” said Howard. “When guys are attacking we’re tough to guard.
“We moved the ball a lot tonight. We got some good shots. We didn’t rush anything.”
Pau Gasol scored 23 points for the Lakers, but only rebounded the ball three times during the entire course of the game.
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