Derek Fisher and the Los Angeles Lakers headed into a pair of games this weekend with a 10-game winning streak on the line and a chance to make it an even dozen.
In the first game on Friday, No. 2 had just four points, but was second on the team in assists, with six and also grabbed four boards as the Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 104-92 on to stretch the winning streak to 11 and end the homestand a perfect 6-0 as they headed to Utah.
But Utah was where the streak would end. Despite a deft shooting hand, D-Fish was not able to will the Lakers to their twelfth straight win as they fell in Utah on Saturday, 102-94.
Fish went 5-6 in the first half, en route to 13 points, as he helped the Lakers keep pace with the Jazz. But in the second half, Los Angeles wasn’t able to keep up.
Derek finished the night with 15 points, on 6-8 shooting. His 75 percent shooting was at odds with the rest of the team, who finished shooting just 46 percent from the field.
No. 2 also added two rebounds, and an assist and steal in a valiant effort.
FOUL FORECAST
Speaking with the Los Angeles Times before the loss, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he was worried that the Utah Jazz would try and get Fish into foul trouble early and take him out of the game.
After all, in the Lakers most recent win, Fish spent the entire fourth quarter on the bench with three fouls.
And after the game, the Zen Master looked like Nostradamus again.
D-Fish picked up his fourth foul of the game early in the third quarter and headed to the bench. But the fouls didn’t stop No. 2 from being one of LA’s top contributors in the victory.
NEXT UP
The Lakers continue a five game road swing, playing the Bulls in Chicago on Tuesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. PST and all the action can be seen on KCAL.
RELATED ARTICLES
Lakers vs. Jazz in game report (L.A. Times, Dec. 12, 2009)
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/12/lakers-vs-jazz-ingame-report.html