Utah Jazz: Lakers' Fisher breaks hearts once again

SALT LAKE CITY — Derek Fisher, for the fourth straight season, was back Saturday night making huge shots at EnergySolutions Arena during a playoff series.

Unfortunately for the Utah Jazz and their fans, the past three seasons Fisher has been making those big jumpers wearing a Los Angeles Lakers uniform. That fact has turned the one-time Jazz fan favorite into Public Enemy No. 2 — trailing only Kobe Bryant in vitriol in Salt Lake City.

Fisher, who turns 36 in August, had his best game of the playoffs during the Lakers' 111-110 victory. The final three of his 20 points came on a jumper beyond the arc with 29 seconds remaining, giving the Lakers a 109-108 lead they would not surrender.

"That's what I live for," Fisher said of his big 3-pointer. "It's always good when they go down and we win."

Fisher's big bucket came as a surprise to exactly no one on either team.

"(Fisher's) done that his whole career. He's a playoff player," said Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer.

"He makes big plays," said Lakers big man Pau Gasol. "It's not surprising."

Fisher, as has been the case in Utah since he left the Jazz following the 2007 season, was booed nearly every time he touched the basketball.

"I understand it," said Fisher of the boos from the Utah fans. "I accept it for what it is. I'm on the opposing team, so regardless about what people feel personally about my situation, they are still going to boo for the guy on the other team. It's just that simple. I'm not going to expect fans from the home team to cheer loudly for a player on the other team."

Fisher helped the Jazz to an overtime win over Golden State in 2007 in one of the most memorable games in franchise history. Fisher arrived at the arena after the game had already started after flying in from New York where his infant daughter was being treated for a rare form of eye cancer.

What happened next has been well documented. The Jazz, at Fisher's urging, let him out of his contract so that he could move his family closer to where his daughter could get the best medical attention. He then re-signed with the Lakers — and many Jazz fans have never forgiven him.

While Fisher says he understands the boos, he clearly doesn't like it.