Derek Fisher’s shot keeps falling, and with his scoring, the Los Angeles Lakers keep soaring.
This weekend, the Lakers took two from Eastern Conference opponents, and both times, D-Fish shot better than 50 percent.
It started Friday night, against the Philadelphia 76ers. No. 2 took only four shots, but hit two of them, good for four points. He did even more damage at the free throw line though, going 5-6 on the night.
He also chipped in three assists, all to different players, his last one coming with under 40 seconds to play. No. 2 found Lamar Odom for a bucket, putting the Lakers up ten and the game out of reach. D-Fish also grabbed three boards in the 99-91 victory.
SUNDAY BEST
Sunday afternoon, the stakes were higher, with the Lakers facing their archrival, the Boston Celtics.
With more on the line, No. 2 raised both his shooting percentage and his game in the Lakers 91-89 victory.
Fish scored nine points, taking just five shots and hitting three. His 60 percent from the floor was the best of any Los Angeles or Boston starter on the day.
Early on, Fish helped the Lakers jump out to a monstrous lead. With six minutes left in the first, Fish stepped to the line with a one point lead. He hit both his free throws, and then, over the next three minutes, found Andrew Bynum twice and Pau Gasol once for three assists, as the Lakers increased their early lead by eleven.
The Lakers would need every point, because Boston stormed back, outscoring the Lakers by 18 in the next two quarters, setting the stage for Kobe Bryant’s dramatic winner.
With seven seconds left No. 24 hit a jumper from the free throw line to put Los Angeles up 91-89.
Ray Allen tried a last ditch three for the win, but it clanged off the rim, and there was No. 2, grabbing the rebound and sealing the victory.
NEXT UP
Los Angeles’ lengthy road trip finally nears its end, as the Lakers take on Memphis in the last game of their eight stop tour tonight at 5:00 p.m. PST. The game can be seen on KCAL.
The Lakers beat the Grizz earlier in the year. In that game, Fish had one of his best all-around performances of the season, scoring 11 points, dishing seven dimes and pulling in three rebounds.
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Kobe’s late jumper lifts Lakers, sends Celtics to 6th loss in last 8 games (ESPN.com, Jan, 31, 2010)
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