The Orlando Magic almost tied the 2009 NBA Finals at a game apiece Sunday night.
But they didn’t, and now they’ll essentially be playing for their playoff lives Tuesday when they host the Los Angeles Lakers for Game 3 of the best-of-seven series (9 pm ET, ABC).
betED.com has Orlando as a 4-point favorite and the over/under total at 198.5.
After almost losing the game in the final second, Los Angeles beat the Magic 101-96 in overtime of Game 2 on Sunday to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the NBA Championship series.
The Magic had a chance to win in regulation as the game was tied 88-88 with only 0.6 seconds left on the clock, but Courtney Lee missed what should have been routine layup.
Pau Gasol scored seven of his 24 points in the extra session and finished with 10 rebounds, while Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 29 points and eight assists, including one that led to a crucial three-point play by Gasol to cap a seven-point LA run in OT.
Lamar Odom tallied 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds for the Lakers, who took the opener, 100-75, on Thursday and then sank their last 14 foul shots on Sunday to hold on for the win.
Rashard Lewis poured in 34 points for the Magic, while Hedo Turkoglu added 22 points in defeat. Dwight Howard totaled 17 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks. Howard also had four steals, but accounted for seven of Orlando’s 20 turnovers. That led to 28 Lakers points.
Lewis also had 11 rebounds and seven assists while shooting 12-of-21 from the field.
The Lakers dominated the extra frame and are now halfway to their 15th NBA championship.
LA is a near-perfect 38-1 in franchise history when they have a 2-0 series edge.
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