LAKERS INSIDE LOOK: READY WHEN IT COUNTS FISHER'S LATE PLAYS HELP GET LAKERS OFF THE HOOK.

Byline: Steve Dilbeck Staff Writer

SAN ANTONIO - The numbers won't light up anyone's scrapbook. Nothing there that will indicate Derek Fisher had anything but a rough game.

Truth be told, most of it was. Chasing that 19-year-old Tony Parker all over the floor. Struggling from the field. Bruising his left knee against 7-foot-1 David Robinson so badly, at first he couldn't stand.

A guard who hit only 2 of 9 field goals. Who had only two assists in 36 minutes.

And then helped turn it all around with a pair of positively rugged plays down the stretch.

Although Kobe Bryant was rightfully getting the bulk of credit for his spectacular play down the stretch in the Lakers' 87-85 victory Sunday over the Spurs in Game 4 of their playoff series, Fisher was key in a very different way.

In the final seconds, with the game tied 85-85, Bryant dribbled the ball off Bruce Bowen's foot. The ball suddenly was loose. Whomever came up with it had a chance at winning the game.

Fisher, fighting off his knee bruise, came up with the ball, the shot clock down to single digits.

``When I picked the ball up, my first glance was up at the shot clock to see how much time I had left,'' Fisher said. ``I saw there was 6 seconds left, so I knew at that point I just had to try and get to the basket or close enough to get off a good shot, and if I didn't make it, at least we'd have enough time to get an offensive rebound or something.''

The Lakers settled for the something. Fisher's shot bounced off the rim and to Bryant flying down the lane. He one-handed the rebound and then put it back in for the 87-85 lead with 5.1 seconds to play.

``I didn't see Kobe until the last second,'' Fisher said. ``I don't even know what I was thinking. I was definitely amazed he was able to go up and get it.''

San Antonio, desperate not to leave down 1-3 in the series, had enough time for a final basket. The Spurs had missed their last eight field goals. The Lakers had a foul to give, and Robert Horry gave it to leave the Spurs 3.2 seconds.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich then decided to sub veteran Terry Porter for Robinson. Porter had played only 2 minutes.

Porter took the inbounds and was fronted by Fisher beyond the top of the key. He tried to swing the ball but seemed to just collapse. Porter fell, the ball rolled lose, Tim Duncan scooped it up and threw up a wild shot that went off the mark.

``(Porter) caught the ball, and I got really close up on him,'' Fisher said. `He tried to sweep through my arms, and I closed up even tighter. I don't know if his foot caught mine on the swing move or what, but when he went down, I was hoping he wouldn't get the shot off.''

As Fisher spoke after the game, he was gingerly putting his pants on, his left knee obviously painful after his collision with Robinson.

``It was extremely sore the first few minutes,'' Fisher said. ``I tried to get up, but I knew I wasn't going to be able to, so I just stayed down. It was really sore for awhile, but I was able to get some ice on it and it felt better.''

Battered and bruised, hardly a typical Fisher. Tough numbers, yet strong results, for a tough player.

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Lakers guard Derek Fisher works his way around San Antonio's Tony Parker on Sunday.

Douglas C. Pizac/Associated Press