Lakers v Magic Game 2 Play by Play

Game 2 of the NBA Finals will be the biggest game of the season for both teams concerned. The difference between 2-0 and 1-1 heading into Game 3 in Orlando is massive and the Magic could swing all the momentum in this series with a win tonight.

How can that happen after they were hammered by 25 points in the opener? More Dwight (except the early fouls), Less Jameer, better shooting and higher intensity. Easy huh?

For the Lakers, they have little to improve on but will need to retain focus and can't expect Kobe to post 40-8-8 every night. Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum both need play at a high level and personally, i'd like to see a little more Shannon Brown.

First Quarter

12.00 - We are go in Game 2 and Rafer Alston misses the first shot. Not a promising harbinger for the Magic after their abysmal shooting effort a few nights ago.

10.20 - Trevor Ariza scores from behind the line and the Lakers lead 3-2. He is a free agent this summer and must be seeing dollar signs every time he sinks a bucket. More importantly, it means Lamar Odom can sit down and get back to that bag of skittles.

9.21 - A big time block by Superman Howard, Gasol can't quite believe it. The teams are 2/9 shooting so far combined.

7.54 - 2 fouls already on Bynum. He's out, Lamar is in and Dwight is smiling. So is Hedo but i can't quite figure that one out.

6.29 - Gasol returns the favour with a block on Howard. Neither team has really found a rhythm yet and there's been quite a few early fouls. 6-6

4.04 - Odom goes to the line and now Peitrus, Lewis and Lee have two fouls. Lamar scores one and its 11-10 Lakers.

Howard has six boards but the Magic also have six turnovers. Neither coach will be thrilled by what they're seeing here.

End of 1st - Not pretty on offense, in fact it s the lowest combined scoring effort in NBA Finals history. 15-15 after 1. Orlando look better defensively with Gortat combining with Howard but three of their best shooters are on the bench with foul trouble.

Second Quarter

10.24 - Nice shot be Odom, he now has 7 points. Battie responds and its 19-19.

Odom with a great block running back to keep Redick's shot out. Everybody felt he would be vital to LA in the Finals and so far, so good for Lakers fans. Kobe aint doing work right now, he's resting on the bench.

The Magic are rebounding well on both ends of the floor but are giving up possession far too easily. First Jack and Denzel sightings of the night.

I'm not sure I've ever seen a more scared looking 7 footer than Andrew Bynum. Kobe better not be picking on him...

8.01 - Vujacic misses a good look from the baseline as both teams continue to struggle with the long ball. Redick goes up the other end and bricks aswell. 24-21 Lakers

6.20 - Lewis sticks a 3, he now has 11 and is starting to motor. This anaemic Magic offense needs him right now. 26-26.

Farmar misses two chances and the crowd give the 'how is this guy ahead of Shannon Brown' groan. I did too.

Might be a little early but the Lakers backfield looks a little out of sync so far. Lamar, Pau and Bynum (show me a little more and i'll call you by your Christian name) have had some bright moments but not a lot from Fish, Farmar, Vujacic and the Black Mamba. Considering the errors that the Magic have committed, Nicholson's team should be a little further ahead.

4.13 - On cue, Kobe drives and feeds Fisher for the 3 pointer. Rashard then nails a response from threeland, he looks really good right now but is getting little support. 32-29 Lakers.

Doris Burke is reporting from the sideline. How many kids have been called 'Doris' in the last fifty years?

1.52 - Kobe sinks one from deep and the Lakers have their largest lead of the game 36-29.

Can't leave Gasol with that much room as he arcs a jump shot in. Lewis has nailed consecutive shots from threeland and has 18 points in the quarter (the rest of the team just 2), bringing his team back within 3, 38-35 LA

End of 2nd - 40-35 to the Lakers. Strange half of Basketball here at the Staples Center; very little from Kobe but Gasol and Odom have been strong. Orlando have been all over the boards with Rashard on fire towards the end but Stan will have every reason to look grumpy considering his team's anaemic offence and lack of intensity. They needed to use the failings in Game 1 as a motivator but at this stage they havent forced the Lakers beyond second gear.

Still no dunks in the series for Mr. Slam Dunk or Sir Slam Dunk...Dr. Dunk? Lord of the Dunks? Man O'Dunk? Sir Dunkalot? Ooooh i like that one.

3rd Quarter

Fast start for both sides as Orlando finally make a shot on the break. 42-41 Lakers

9.24 - All about Kobe Bryant early in the second half. He makes another tough shot and LA is up 46-43.

Alston was wide open for a three and sends up an air ball. Both teams are playing at a high tempo but neither can pull away. 50-47 Lakers.

Alston misses another clear look; at some point, the Magic will surely catch alight from range.

5.29 - DUNK! DUNK by Sir Dunkalot! (I think I'm going with that one) 52-51 LA.

4.37 - Ariza strips Howard after a poor offensive series by Orlando and sets up Kobe for the dunk. Take that Dwight. Timeout Orlando.

Lewis has gone cold in the third, he airs another three but Turkoglu is filling the void. 54-54.

Plenty of nail biting on the Orlando bench but their team are on equal terms in this contest. Turkoglu with another three and Orlando is now up by that many.

1.38 - A loose ball foul against Lamar (his third foul) as he hauls down Gortat and Nelson quite comedically.

If Orlando had shot better to this point and not committed so many turnovers, they would be up big right now. The Lakers desperately need to get more rebounds and get Kobe revving up.

1.15 - Kobe scores a deuce.

End of 3rd - Orlando will be pleased with their quarters work as they finish it up 65-63. The pairing of Turkoglu and Lewis are leading the charge with their scoring but Howard's distribution and rebounding are the keys for me.

4th Quarter

11.30 - Odom drives to the basket and its all squared up at 65. Shannon Brown gets on the floor.

4 fouls now for both Odom and Bynum.

10.25 - Lamar forces another tough shot down. Gortat responds but again, Odom scores. The Magic need to slow him down while also remembering that we are officially in Kobe territory. 69-68 Lakers.

7.27 - Lamar Odom makes another jump shot. He is having one of his best games of the season at a vital time.

6.14 - Rashard Lewis checks back into the scorers column with a clean trey and Orlando move 77-75 ahead. Thats two more than they had in Game 1.

5.26 - A couple of sloppy series by the Lakers is remedied by Derek Fisher banking in a shot to tie it up at 77.

Odom and Bynum now each have 5 fouls. The Magic have gone to a big line up without a traditional point guard and are putting the Lakers under physical pressure.

4.31 - Gasol makes a tough shot, arcing back as Howard defended him, 79-79.

Fouls on both end as Howard sticks two free throws, Kobe makes one, Hedo commits a foul on offence and then Pietrus fouls out defending Kobe. Bryant gets both and the Lakers edge ahead 82-81.

2.42 - Timeout Orlando as Howard loses the ball...followed by Fisher losing the rock. It's scrappy, it's inconsistent and it's riviting.

Two clutch FT's from Kobe are answered by a trio from J.J Redick. 84-84

1.33 - Rashard Lewis going back to his roots as he spins between Gasol and Ariza, banking the shot in. High difficulty effort there on that post up move. 86-84 Magic.

The Black Mamba fired back. 86-86.

0.47.7 - Hedo Turkoglu hits another big shot as the shot clock expires to put the Magic back ahead. The crowd are real quiet all of a sudden in California. 88-86 Orlando.

0.33.5 - Gasol levels it up at 88.

That's huge. Courtney Lee, who has been fairly anonymous this game, does all the hard work getting into the paint only to miss the shot and Lamar Odom grabs the all important rebound. 10 seconds to go and LA call a timeout. Kobe will get the chance to win this but Orlando may be tempted to foul and reserve some time.

0.00.6 - Turkoglu gets beat by Kobe but recovers to block the shot from behind and preserve their hopes of stealing this one from LA. Bryant is visibly upset but he and his team have got to stay focused and not allow Orlando to get a clean shot as time expires.

End of 4th - Oooooweeee...Courtney Lee gets the alley oop from Turkoglu's inbound but can't quite get it to go. Howard dunks the rebound but the buzzer has already gone and we head for OT! Almost a sensational finish. Great play but not quite the execution. 88-88

Overtime (5 minutes)

Could be all about fouls now. So many guys close to fouling out. Howard came up huge in OT against the Cavs but on the other end is the master finisher, Mr. Bryant. Big moments call for big players.

Orlando begin with consecutive turnovers and Gasol draws first blood of OT with two FT's. 90-88 LA.

3.20 - Howard gets the basket and the foul. First time that has happened for the behemoth all night. He sinks the extra point and is now 7-9 from the line this game. You have to like the way he has responded to pressure in the playoffs. 91-90 Orlando.

2.40 - Ariza and Redick both miss from threeland.

2.19 - Bryant is almost down on his backside as he makes a hard shot. Lakers back in front 92-91.

Fisher hits two after being fouled and the Lakers advantage is now 3.

1.14 - Turkoglu's shot seemed destined to fall only to fly out of the basket and Gasol takes it to the hole on the other end, with the foul. Good work inside by Kobe and with the FT, the Lakers move 97-91 ahead. Timeout Orlando as they attempt to come up with an escape plan.

Redick lays one in and Kobe loses the ball out of bounds at the other end. The Magic need to take advantage but Lewis' three attempt doesn't want to go, just like Hedo's a minute previous.

0.26.2 - It's Cleveland all over again as Rashard receives an inbound, turns, fires and scores from outside the arc and the Magic still have some magic left. 99-96 LA.

0.22.1 - Redick fouls Odom and he scores both, that's 14 straight for the team at a critical time.

End of OT - The Lakers hold on and win it 101-96. They take a 2-0 series lead and will feel confident of securing another NBA Championship, despite an incomplete performance. The Magic were far better than in Game 1 and fought hard in the second half plus overtime but unfortunately for them, it wasn't quite enough.

Orlando have still yet to win a game in the Finals (0-6) and their best chance to change that record and to take control of this series may have slipped through Courtney Lee's fingers as time expired at the end of regulation.

Game 3 is Tuesday night at the Amway Arena, Orlando.