Guard answers Duncan's miracle shot with his own at the buzzer for a 3-2 edge

By Tim Brown

May 14, 2004 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

SAN ANTONIO —

The basketball was out of his hand a few feet when Derek Fisher began to believe.

And so, to him, it was not entirely unexpected that this shot -- caught, aimed and released in just under four-tenths of a second Thursday night -- had delivered the victory that never came for the Lakers last season and now brought them to the brink of the Western Conference finals.

At the end of some of the most remarkable three minutes the NBA playoffs had ever seen, Fisher made a turnaround 18-footer with Manu Ginobili and the final horn coming fast, and the Lakers defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 74-73, in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals at SBC Center.

The Lakers lead the best-of-seven series, three games to two. Game 6 is Saturday night at Staples Center.

The Spurs filed a protest with the league, claiming the clock was started late.

A role player in a lineup of superstars, Fisher had answered two earlier shots by Spur forward Tim Duncan.

Not far from where Robert Horry’s three-point try rimmed out a year ago in the same fifth game, and with Horry on the floor for the Spurs, Fisher caught an inbounds pass from Gary Payton, turned and launched the shot. The arena grew quiet, and the players stood and watched.

“I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to get one just like that,” Fisher said.

The horn sounded as the ball cleared his fingertips. He stumbled backward. And as the ball neared the rim, Fisher not only believed, he knew.

“As it got closer,” he said, “I knew the ball was going in.”

Before, these moments were for other people. For Kobe Bryant, who’d made a 21-footer with 11.5 seconds to play to give the Lakers a 72-71 lead. But Bryant, his legs and body fading anyway as he made only four of 13 shots in the second half, was covered on the last play. Shaquille O’Neal, who broke to the basket, was defended as well. Karl Malone screened Ginobili, for just a moment.

Payton went through his teammates, one at a time, and chose Fisher, Ginobili not far behind.

“He hit it,” Payton said.

He hit it.

“The biggest shot of his life,” said Fisher’s brother, Duane Washington, fighting tears and a raspy throat 30 minutes later.

Less than a second after Duncan had put the Spurs ahead, 73-72, on an off-balance, in-O’Neal’s-chest, fling-it-up 18-foot shot, he made it. Less than three minutes after Duncan double-pumped and accidentally banked in another 18-foot shot from the top of the key, also over O’Neal, he made it.

As memorable a shot in this Laker generation, at least with Horry’s in Game 4 of the 2002 Western Conference finals, Fisher on the road, in a place the Lakers had not won a playoff game, surrounded by future Hall of Famers, he made it. The loss was the Spurs’ first at home since March 1, 18 games ago.

“It’s unfortunate, incredible,” Duncan said.

As Lakers leaped into the air, chasing him, Fisher dashed the length of the court, pointing his right hand toward ... Los Angeles? Surrounded by emergency medical personnel at the end of an entry tunnel, leaning over their television, he watched the replay and celebrated again when referees confirmed to an aching crowd the shot had left his hand on time.

Knowing that four-tenths provided nothing but one movement, all at the basket, Fisher said, “I was halfway into my shot even as I was catching the ball.”

Even then, Spur Coach Gregg Popovich wasn’t sure. The clock, he said, did not react to the catch. “I think it definitely started late,” he said.

In fact, according to a league official, all three referees and an NBA-employed timekeeper have the capability to start the clock. The first one starts it.

The Lakers could hardly be troubled by the Spurs’ suspicions. They had played to a 16-point lead, then lost it over the final 15 minutes. Dynamic well into the third quarter, and having been carried by Bryant and Devean George offensively, by O’Neal and Malone defensively, they stumbled into the final minutes.

Tony Parker and Duncan began to score and their own offense became scattered, overly reliant on a tiring Bryant. So the Spurs drew back, went to Duncan and were ahead, 73-72, after Duncan made his fall-away 18-foot shot with four-tenths of a second left. Duncan lifted himself from the court after his shot and was mobbed by thrilled Spurs, sure four-tenths would pass without harm.

But, as O’Neal noted, “One lucky shot deserves another. They got one on their end.”

Fisher wouldn’t call it that. He’d call it his due.

“That’s a tribute to his focus and dedication to the team and putting the team first,” said Rick Fox, who didn’t play. “He’s had to sacrifice for the betterment of the team, the addition of Gary. Tonight was a remarkable payback for his sacrifice.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

THE BIG FINISH

The Spurs took a 69-68 lead on Tim Duncan’s 17-footer with 2:44 to play:

TIME: PLAY

2:14: Tony Parker makes layup after Manu Ginobili steals ball from Kobe Bryant. Spurs, 71-68

1:57: Shaquille O’Neal makes four-foot jumper. Spurs, 71-70

1:39: Devin Brown misses 23-foot three-point shot, Spurs get rebound. Spurs, 71-70

1:27: Parker misses 21-footer, Spurs get rebound. Spurs, 71-70

1:17: Robert Horry misses 25-foot three-point shot. Spurs, 71-70

:53: Bryant misses 24-foot three-point shot. Spurs, 71-70

:31: Parker misses 19-foot jumper. Spurs, 71-70

:11: Bryant makes 21-foot jumper. Lakers, 72-71