Fisher continues Mr Clutch role for LA Lakers

  Derek Fisher hit a clutch three-pointer with just 3.1 seconds left as the Los Angeles Lakers rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the Dallas Mavericks 73-70. It was the first three pointer of the game for the Lakers who spoiled the return of Lamar Odom to Staples Center arena. "I am never the first option, but my teammates trust me," said Fisher, who has made a career of making seemingly impossible game-winning shots for the Lakers over his 15-years in the NBA. "This is what I do. Regardless of how many shots I get throughout the game with my wisdom and my experience I have to trust my offence." The Lakers had missed all 10 three-point attempts prior to Fisher draining his game-winning dagger. Los Angeles star Kobe Bryant struggled from the field and finished with just 14 points, snapping his streak of 40 points or more at four games. Andrew Bynum led the Lakers with 17 points and 15 rebounds. But it was Fisher's dramatic final basket that lifted the Lakers to the win as they gained a small measure of revenge over Dallas which swept Los Angeles out the playoffs. The two teams met in last year's NBA quarter-finals with the Mavericks winning in four straight, eliminating the Lakers from the post-season and sending their iconic coach Phil Jackson into retirement. Odom was playing in his first game at Staples Center arena since being traded by the Los Angeles to the Mavericks before the start of the season. Odom received a standing ovation from the pro-Lakers crowd when he came into the game off the Mavericks' bench in the first quarter. Lakers guard Fisher was one of the first to greet him walking over to shake his hand as the crowd stood and applauded. "I talked with him about just competing as hard as he could and letting everything else take care of itself," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. Odom finished with 10 points on four-of-12 shooting from the field. Germany's Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with a game-high 21 points. The game started slowly for the star players of both teams. Reigning NBA finals MVP Nowitzki shot zero-for-five in the first quarter and Kobe Bryant went zero-for-four. Odom drained a three pointer with just four seconds left in the first to give the Mavericks an 18-15 lead heading into the second quarter. The Lakers shot 41 percent and Bynum had 10 points as the Lakers led 39-35 at the half. But Los Angeles struggled mightily in the third quarter scoring just two points in one eight-minute stretch and shooting just three-of-19 from the field. "We were a little disjointed offensively," said Lakers coach Mike Brown. Bryant missed a jump shot in the closing minute before Dallas' Jason Terry hit a one-handed pullup from six feet with 10 seconds left to tie the game 70-70. The Lakers then ran the clock down to the final seconds, setting the stage for Fisher's game-winning shot from beyond the arc. The win give the Lakers nine consecutive wins at home and six victories in their last seven games.