(Republished from February 21, 2014)
As the Lakers look to get a win against the Boston Celtics tonight at Staples Center, we’re going to take a moment to reflect one of the premiere moments in the history of the storied Lakers-Celtics rivalry: Derek Fisher‘s takeover in Game 3 of the 2010 NBA Finals.
After losing home-court advantage in Game 2, the Lakers went on the road knowing that if they did not win at least one of three games in Boston, they had no chance at repeating as champions.
Ideally, the Lakers would like to get a win as soon as possible, so they came out with the effort that was necessary to steal one in the first game in Boston.
Game 3 was a close contest all the way into the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
Derek Fisher has always found a way to leave an imprint on big moments in Laker history, as he is often remembered for his grit, toughness, and leadership. But perhaps more than anything, he’s cemented a name in the Lakers Hall of Fame for his knack to knock down important shots during crucial moments.
In that last quarter of Game 3, Fisher brought his A-game, scoring 11 of his 16 points in that period.
His excellent play in the fourth would prove to be the difference between winning and losing a championship, as that was the only road game the Lakers won in that series en route to their title.