The ball careened off the rim and into the hands of Pietrus, another clutch jumper missed by Kobe Bryant.
Magic, 87. Lakers, 82. 1:02 left.
By all indications, the Lakers were done. They were visibly weary and deflated from battling the Orlando Magic. The 17k+ packed inside of Amway Arena. The whistles, or non-whistles, of Bennett Salvatore, Mike Callahan and Scott Foster. The mounting pressure of not having won a Finals game away from Staples Center since 2002.
This was supposed to be the defining moment for the Orlando Magic.
