Lakers fall behind Magic in weekend matchup

With a 15-4 start this season, the Orlando Magic are off to an organization best and kicked things into high gear Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers when the teams faced off at the Staples Center. The Lakers were not able to overpower Magic’s HedoTurkoglu, who sunk a three-pointer and spared a pivotal 9-0 run for the team, with  Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard contributing 18 and 17 points, respectively, to send Orlando to a 104-97 victory over the Lakers, according to an Associated Press article published at the Lakers official Web site.

The Lakers, led by Kobe Bryant’s 28-point performance and Lamar Odom’s 19 points, struggled in the third quarter, trailing by ten points and then pulled ahead to secure a 73-70 lead, but ultimately fell in the fourth when Magic’s J.J. Redick made a three-pointer, two free-throws and a fifteen-footer in a little more than a minute and with less than ten minutes left to go in the fourth, according to the article.

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson, who last week signed a five-year contract to continue on with the team, has announced that this may not be his last contract after last week’s victory over Denver.
“I was in my 50s in the last era, I’m in my 60s in this era, and maybe I can go on into my 70s,” Jackson said in an Associated Press article published Nov. 30 at ABC News’ official Web site. “But I really don’t think so. I mean, I’m losing a step as I go mentally and physically. Being abreast of all these kids is not an easy task. I can hardly speak their language, but I’m trying.”

Jackson said the timing of his decision announcement hinged partially on his ailing heath this past summer and said

“The decision to return as coach, and the decision to be asked to return as coach, both had very little to do with Kobe Bryant and very little to do with the talent here,” Jackson said. “It’s about the proximity that I feel to this organization, the comfort I feel working for this organization, and the progress I think we’re making.”
What better time then now is there to see a Lakers game at the Staples Center or elsewhere? Jackson and the team are working hard to come back and you can see them fight for a win this week as they face off against the Denver Nuggets Tuesday, Dec. 4, and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. Get Lakers tickets at Stubhub.com right here and right now before it’s too late!

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