Lakers use 16-0 run to open 56-46 lead over Magic at halftime of NBA Finals Game 5

Lakers open 56-46 lead over Magic at halftime

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Los Angeles Lakers were one half from their 15th championship, running off 16 straight points in a dominant second quarter to open a 56-46 lead over the Orlando Magic on Sunday night in Game 5 of the NBA finals.

Kobe Bryant, seeking his fourth title but first without Shaquille O’Neal, scored 15 points in the half. Trevor Ariza had 11 of his 12 in the second quarter.

The Lakers surged into the lead with a 16-0 run to open a 12-point lead, thrilling a large contingent of their fans wearing purple and gold inside Amway Arena.

Los Angeles was 5 of 8 from 3-point range in the half and made three 3s during their big run. Orlando missed eight of its nine 3s.

Dwight Howard and Rafer Alston both scored nine points in the half for Orlando, which was trying to force a Game 6 in Los Angeles on Tuesday. No team has overcome a 3-1 deficit in the finals.

With the Lakers trailing 40-36 midway through the second quarter , Derek Fisher and Ariza hit 3s, and after a jumper by Bryant, Ariza made another 3 for a 47-40 lead. Fisher followed with another bucket, Ariza hit a free throw, and a basket by Lamar Odom pushed the lead to 52-40 before Alston finally ended Orlando’s drought with a layup.

The Lakers, who made eight straight shots in one stretch, outscored the Magic 30-18 in the period, helped by Orlando’s sloppy play on the offensive end. The Magic had seven turnovers in the quarter, leading to 11 points.

Orlando, which shot a finals-record 62.5 percent from the field in its Game 3 victory, started on pace for another night like that. The Magic made eight of their first 11 shots, running off eight straight points to open a 15-6 lead.

The last basket came after Rashard Lewis batted the ball out of Bryant’s hand, leading to a layup by Alston. Bryant lingered at the other end of the court in obvious pain and during the timeout trainer Gary Vitti looked at his right hand, which has had two fingers dislocated in the last two seasons.

Bryant returned play resumed and hit his next two shots, including a 3-pointer, and the Lakers chipped away at the lead as Orlando’s shots stopped falling. The Magic missed 10 of their final 14 shots as their lead was cut to 28-26 after one quarter.