This magic moment...

Orlando, FL

Amway Arena was home to a complete role reversal in Game three of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night. Just as in the tale of the old Drifters song, the game was sweeter than wine, and the nets seemed softer than a summer night for Stan Van Gundy's bunch. Orlando shot an NBA Finals record 62.5% from the field (75% first half) en route to a 108-104 victory over the Lakers to pull the series within one game. Orlando shot lights out all night. Los Angeles edged them in second chance points 18-5, but that was partly due to the hot shooting of Orlando that didn't produce too many rebounds. It was actually the Lakers that controlled the game for most of the first half until the Magic surged late for a 5 point half-time advantage. After an 0-6 start, this was the first Finals win for the Magic franchise. It also kept them from going down 0-3, a deficit no Finals team has ever overcome to win the title.

It was not as if the Lakers had no chance in this game, they just had no chance at shooting with the hot Orlando shooters. Kobe Bryant started the game hot scoring 17 first quarter points including a four-point play as he was fouled sinking a three. Then the second quarter happened, and in a bad way for LA, the Magic proceeded to miss only three attempts to close out the half. Bryant went 4-15 missing five free-throws the rest of the game and finished with a game high 31 points, 8 assists, and 3 boards. Pau Gasol who continues to play solid in the playoffs had 23 but just 3 rebounds in the loss. Trevor "Slash" Ariza added 13 and Farmar as well as LO came off the bench with 11 points each. Once again coach Phil Jackson kept the reigns tight on his bench opting not to use Shannon Brown and spotting Sasha Vujacic only three minutes in the contest.

The Orlando Magic basically played one hell of a game getting good looks all over with an effective inside out game and an ability to share the ball well. LA will look to get to the paint more often and work that Gasol-Bryant pick and roll that is so effective for them in Game 4 Thursday night. The Lakers also need to show more consistency from the charity stripe as they missed on 10-of-26 attempts in Tuesdays loss. 

Things to know looking ahead to game 4 are the Lakers are 6-0 in the playoffs coming off a loss. Also after Wednesday's practice, coach Phil Jackson called his team to a mandatory 7:30 buss, (Freudian slip, I'll let it go) the team wen to see the new Blockbuster The Taking of Phelam 123, with Denzel Washington and John Travolta. Otherwise known as "The new Denzel joint", by Lakers forward Josh Powell. We'll see if a train heist is just what the lakers need to derail the Magic for the rest of this 'Mickey Mouse Series'.