Thursday evening marked the pivotal Game 4 of the 2009 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the home team, the Orlando Magic. The Lakers looked to extend their series lead to three games, but with momentum on their side, a record setting Game 3 and a young girl by the name of Gina Marie Incandela, the Magic were looking to make it, as they would say, a series.

The Lakers, however, were successful in making the appropriate adjustments, taking a commanding 3 games to 1 lead over the Magic, winning 99-91 in Overtime. Sasha Vujacic finished the game with one assist.

The First Quarter started off rather slow for these two teams, one known for being high scoring and the other for pushing it down both ends of the floor. By the 8:00 minute mark, the Lakers had 6, Orlando 7, which consisted of a few jump shots and free throw attempts. Foul trouble became an issue for the Lakers, as their big men picked up two a piece, with the 2nd quarter just underway. Because of this, DJ Mbenga made his first appearance in Amway Arena.

The Lakers needed to slow the pace of the game down, as it was most obviously led by the ball handlings of Rafer Alston and the defensive stops of Dwight Howard. The Lakers did finish the quarter with 0 turnovers versus the Magic’s 6. Despite that, the Lakers were only down by four points, with the score 20-24.

Sasha Vujacic made an in game appearance at the start of the Second Quarter, but could not connect for his first two 3-point attempts. Turnovers continued to trouble the Magic, as they added two more by the 10:41 mark. Unlike the Lakers, they had the help they needed from their bench. At the 8:03 mark, the Magic extended their lead to the largest of the game, eight points, with a strong jam by Marcin Gortat. The foul trouble continued for the Lakers, as number three was called on Lamar Odom by the 2nd Quarter’s midway point.

The Purple and Gold starters were able to make it back to the floor by the 5:00 minute mark, but again were not able to contain Gortat as he went for another slam. Holding the Lakers to 33% shooting, the Magic took a commanding 12 point lead by Halftime.

Both teams came out strong after the Half. It was necessary for the Lakers to regain some momentum, being down by so many points. Trevor Ariza, after having a poor First Half, helped cut their halftime lead to five points with the help of some quick shots and steals. This continued on and by the midway point, the Lakers only trailed by one point. With the help of Andrew Bynum’s two consecutive free throw shots, they took the lead for the first time since starting the game. Leads went back and forth as both teams tried to command the 3rd Quarter, however, the desperate play of the Lakers had them up by four points by the beginning of the Fourth Quarter.

The 4th Quarter demonstrated what the 2008-2009 NBA season was all about- exciting basketball. It all came down to the wire, as Derek Fisher’s three-point shot with 4.6 second left in regulation, tied the game at 87. A missed attempt by the Magic sent the game into Overtime, which the Lakers completely dominated. Another three-pointer by Derek and slams by Pau Gasol solidified a W in the record books for the Lake-show.

The Lakers plan on closing the series out in Orlando on Sunday, finally bringing the Larry O’Brien trophy back to the great city of Los Angeles.