Magic, Lakers go to overtime tied at 88 in Game 2 of NBA finals

Magic, Lakers tied after regulation, go to OT

LOS ANGELES — Hedo Turkoglu blocked a shot by Kobe Bryant and Courtney Lee missed what would have been the winning layup in the closing seconds of regulation, sending the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers into overtime tied at 88.

Game 2 of the NBA finals on Sunday night was a back-and-forth affair, the complete opposite of the Lakers’ 100-75 blowout victory in Game 1.

Dwight Howard leaped with his left arm extended to block Bryant’s final jumper of regulation from the front, while Turkoglu got his hand on the ball from behind. Turkoglu grab the ball and quickly called timeout with 0.6 left.

The referees reviewed the play that sent an angry Bryant to the bench.

After the timeout, Lee took a crosscourt inbounds pass from Turkoglu in midair and tried to lay the ball in. The ball sailed across the rim and hit the right side before bouncing away to set up the five-minute overtime.

The Lakers led 84-81 when JJ Reddick hit a 3-pointer — his first field goal of the game — to tie it with 2:21 remaining. Rashard Lewis banked in a shot for an 86-84 lead before Bryant scored to tie it again.

Turkoglu’s basket put Orlando ahead 88-86 and then Pau Gasol’s layup tied it to force overtime.

There were six lead changes and seven ties in the fourth quarter, when neither team led by more than three points.

Bryant led the Lakers with 27 points at the end of regulation. Lewis led the Magic with 31 points, Turkoglu had 22 and Dwight Howard 14.