Lakers-Magic: Kobe Bryant’s Loss Is Orlandos Gain, 108-104

The Orlando Magic had never won an NBA Finals game.

If they ever needed a win, it was tonight. The Magic could not afford to go down three games to one in their NBA Finals matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers.

As one might expect, Rafer Alston finally got his rhythm back in the first quarter. He hit on 4-for-4 shots, one from beyond the arc for 11 points. But Kobe Bryant was even better, shooting 7-for-10, most of them tightly contested shots, including two three-pointers.

Overall, the Magic shot 69 percent to the Lakers 53 percent. But with Bryant scoring 17 of the Lakers’ last 19 points, the Lakers took a 31-27 first quarter lead.

The Magic’s hot shooting continued in the second quarter. They shot over 76 percent for most of the quarter, but trai...

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