The Associated Press

With the signing of Gary Payton last summer, Derek Fisher went from starter to role player for the Los Angeles Lakers. Now, he's being looked upon as their savior.

"I definitely had no thought it would be myself in that position," a smiling Fisher said Friday of his game-winning 18-foot jumper in San Antonio a night earlier that gave the Lakers a 74-73 victory and 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinals. "The play was not designed for me."

It didn't figure to be, what with Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Karl Malone and Payton - future Hall of Famers all - on the floor with the 6-foot-1 Fisher.

But with less than a half-second remaining, the Spurs made sure Bryant and O'Neal were covered, and Payton was passing the ball in from out of bounds.

Malone set a screen for Fisher, who popped free to beat the clock and the Spurs.

"I just wanted to make sure I was turning as I was catching the ball," said the left-handed Fisher, who was moving to his left as he received Payton's pass and shot in one motion despite Manu Ginobili's tight defense.

Thus, the Lakers can eliminate the defending NBA champion Spurs tonight in Game 6 at Staples Center, where San Antonio did the same to them in the conference semifinals last May.

HEAT-PACERS: Several members of the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers will be playing with pain in Game 5 today, and some of the Heat have their coach to thank for it.

Dwyane Wade and Caron Butler were both banged up after a particularly physical practice Friday in Miami. Wade was elbowed in the face by Wang Zhi-Zhi and Butler left with a sore hip after colliding with Brian Grant, who is nursing a dislocated finger on his right hand and a sore back.

Heat officials said both players will be ready for tonight's game in Indianapolis, but at least one Miami player was left wondering why coach Stan Van Gundy would hold such a rough practice on the eve of their biggest game of the year.

NBA DRAFT: Thirteen high school players were among the 94 who filed as early-entry candidates for the NBA draft. Forty-three college underclassmen, including all four eligible members of the Associated Press' All-America team, also submitted their letters by May 10, the NBA announced Friday.

The players have the right to withdraw their names from the list by notifying the NBA by June 17, one week before the draft is held in Madison Square Garden. Any college players who have not signed with an agent can return to their school and not lose their eligibility.

The All-Americans who filed were Emeka Okafor of Connecticut, Lawrence Roberts of Mississippi State, Ryan Gomes of Providence and Josh Childress of Stanford. The fifth All-American, Jameer Nelson of Saint Joseph's, was a senior.

Thirty-eight international players were on the list.