Derek Fisher put in possibly his best performance of the 2010 NBA playoffs on Sunday night.
But despite stellar guard play from D-Fish and Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers failed for the first time this series to win the big man battle down low, and succumbed to Phoenix, 118-109 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. LA still holds a 2-1 advantage in the series heading into Tuesday night’s Game 4.
And Fish was a big part of the story on Sunday, even in defeat.
No. 2 shot his second best percentage of the playoffs, with a 6-11 night turning into 18 points for the LA point guard. But his impact was felt beyond the scoring column.
Fish played with all around style in Game 3, hauling in a playoff high five rebounds. He also dished three assists to three different players. But Derek, a veteran of numerous playoff runs, knows that nights like these can, despite your best efforts, happen.
“There aren’t any guarantees or foregone conclusions on how these games are going to unfold,” No. 2 said.
Like Sunday night, when Suns forward Amar’e Stoudemire, after a quiet series to date, erupted with 42 points to lead Phoenix to a nine-point victory.
Though overshadowed by Stoudemire’s dominance, D-Fish was on point all night. He was strong in the first, with seven points and two assists, and the Lakers started the second quarter up by three.
A run by the Suns while Fish got his second quarter rest put Phoenix ahead by seven at half. But No. 2 played an outstanding third, trying to change the game’s flow. In the frame he recorded an assist while scoring 11 points, and Los Angeles pulled within one point heading into the fourth quarter.
The Suns, though, closed out Los Angeles with the same efficiency the Lakers did in Games 1 and 2, and, as a result have a chance to tie the series on Tuesday night.
NEXT UP
Attention now shifts to Game 4, where Fish will put his best effort toward another strong performance to carry the Lakers back to a commanding lead with a victory on Tuesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. PST on TNT.
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