Despite previously going 0-for-5 on 3-pointers, Fisher drilled one with 4.6 seconds left to tie the score and force overtime. In the extra period, Fisher hit a three-pointer with 31.3 seconds remaining to put the Lakers up for good at 94-91.

The assist on Fisher's overtime three-pointer came courtesy of Bryant, the 30-year-old Lakers star guard who scored a game-high 32 points. While younger Magic players had much fresher legs down the stretch than Bryant, the weary one still managed to make two key jumpers to start overtime and played solid late-game defense.

"It's obviously huge,'' Lakers forward Luke Walton said of experience being pivotal in the Finals, with Walton certainly remembering his father, Bill Walton, stepping up in the twilight of his career to be an important player as Boston won the 1986 crown. "I think it's shown every year that experience is a big factor in the playoffs. ... (Bryant and Fisher) are the two guys who have won championships before (Bryant also has three rings). Those are the ones that seem to make those key, clutch shots for us in the playoffs.''

Meanwhile, Howard, while he is bound for a star-studded career, is not yet ready for Jerry West to relinquish to him the title of "Mr. Clutch.'' Howard shot just 6-for-14 from the foul line, and will be remembered for a while for his two late misses.

"I just missed them,'' said Howard, whose Magic shot just 10 of 17 from the foul line in the fourth quarter, including a 3-for-7 showing by alleged top marksman Hedo Turkoglu, also new to the Finals. "There's no need to get down on myself."

That will be reserved for Van Gundy, who might deserve the biggest goat horns of all Thursday. After all, it's hard to complain too much about Howard's 21 rebounds and Finals-record nine blocked shots.

Van Gundy watched his team fall apart in the third quarter as the Magic went from being up 49-37 at halftime to being down 67-63. Then Van Gundy didn't bother to have the 6-foot-1 Fisher fouled as he leisurely strolled up the court in the waning seconds of regulation and hit his big three over the one player on the court shorter than him, 6-foot Jameer Nelson.

"In retrospect, we gave him too much space to shoot the ball," said Van Gundy, who cracked before the Finals about his lack of coaching experience compared to the Lakers' Phil Jackson, saying Jackson has won more playoff series than he has playoff games. 'We played like we were trying to prevent the layup. ... It was my decision with 11 seconds not to foul. Yes, I regret it now. But only in retrospect. I mean normally to me, 11 (seconds) is too early. ... That one will haunt me forever."

A coach blaming himself for a Finals loss. That's definitely not a cliche out of Van Gundy's mouth.

As for Fisher, big playoff shots in his career have been the norm. This is the guy, after all, who hit the amazing jumper with 0.4 of a second left in 2004 to stun San Antonio.

"He's been there before,'' said Bryant, who still found plenty of ways to contribute late in even though he shot 6-for-19 after intermission to finish 11-for-31. "He's been there and done that.''

Fisher sure has. But he was modest after the game, deflecting most of the praise to his teammates.

Still, Fisher didn't hesitate to remark that one thing has served recently as motivation.

"Now, it's age,'' Fisher, who scored 12 points, said of suggestions that his best days are well behind him.

But age isn't all that bad in the Finals, especially when one considers the Lakers are facing a team that is pretty much still in daycare when it comes to playoff experience.