They say when you die, you see a bright light, and a tunnel, maybe an angel, some ethereal music, perhaps even a highlight reel of your entire life. On Tuesday night, the Lakers experienced all that. Then Kobe Bryant broke out the paddles, provided some electric stimulation, and now it’s the funniest thing: The Detroit Pistons aren’t feeling all that well.

“We’re crushed,” Detroit coach Larry Brown groaned. “I mean, shoot. That was … We had a winnable game. Everybody in that lockerroom is down.”

True, the Pistons got their split. They’re going back to Michigan with the NBA Finals tied, 1-1, and in another context that might be enough of a celebratory notion to torch a car or two.

But Kobe Bryant’s resuscitating trey with 2.1 seconds left in regulation not only tied the game, not only provided the Lakers enough momentum to proceed toward a 99-91 victory in overtime, but it simultaneously buoyed Los Angeles when confidence was becoming an issue against a feisty opponent and also planted a tiny seed of doubt in the minds of the Eastern representatives.

This was a shot that didn’t just drop, it crashed and exploded. It was like the Robert Horry shot against the Sacramento Kings, or the Derek Fisher miracle hurl against the San Antonio Spurs. It might even be remembered with the Jerry West heave in 1970, or the Magic Johnson baby sky hook in 1987.

The Pistons had a six-point lead with :47.8 left. Then Shaq converted a three-point play, the Lakers made a stop, and then took a timeout with :10.9 left. The ball went to Bryant, and he went for the throat, firing the tying 3-pointer over high school rival Richard Hamilton.

“As far as my professional career,” Bryant said, “this is probably the biggest shot I ever hit in my career, period. I have to put it second behind the shot that I hit to beat Rip in high school.”

The Pistons said all the right things afterward. They still have confidence. Bryant hit a great shot, give him credit. They’re pleased to be going home with the split.

It may all be true.

“I think in three-quarters of every game we outplayed that team,” Detroit’s Chauncey Billups said. “We woke them up a little bit.”

That’s not the wisest move. The Lakers have very pronounced peaks and valleys, and have all season. When they’re vulnerable, it’s vital to apply a lethal blow.

In Game 2, the Lakers again got nothing from Gary Payton (two points, three assists, three turnovers in 28 minutes). Karl Malone performed better than he did in Game 1 -- this time posting nine points and nine rebounds -- but he moved like a 40-year-old man with a bum knee, which he happens to be.

During much of the night, the Lakers looked like they were old and slow, and the Pistons appeared ravenous and ready.

Then Luke Walton appeared. The rookie from Arizona was inserted into the lineup because the team that had been on the floor was so stagnant it was surprising somebody didn’t spray-paint graffiti on it. In an eye-popping coming-out, Walton had seven points, eight assists, five rebounds and two blocked shots in 27 minutes. He was three for three from the floor. He made a couple of passes smart enough to get the Magic stamp of approval. Heck, even a Shaquille O’Neal endorsement.

“He’s a great guy,” O’Neal said of Walton. “A rookie. It amazes me how he can give me the ball and guys that have been playing with me four, five, six years can’t give me the ball.”

Walton got the body ready, but Bryant applied the gift of life.

And if there’s a carryover effect to Game 3 on Thursday night, it won’t be simply that Bryant hit a Hail Mary. The Pistons had the game won – and let the Lakers back in it. Then in overtime, the Lakers outscored them, 10-2.

The Pistons didn’t just lose, they unraveled. They haven’t been to the NBA Finals since 1990, the Lakers won three straight titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002, and the presumed mental edge may be revealing itself.

“They made huge plays and got into overtime,” Brown said, “and we just kind of lost our poise.”

Keeping a cool head while those about you are losing theirs has become a mantra for Kobe Bryant.  Although he finished with a game-high 33 points, he had 20 in the second half and overtime. He and Shaq combined for all 10 points in the OT.

Kobe to the rescue. It isn’t the first time, of course. In recent memory, there was that season-ending game at Portland, where Bryant drained two pressure shots from beyond the arc to give the Lakers the Pacific Division crown.

This one, of course, came in the NBA Finals. No team has ever lost the first two at home and gone on to win a championship. If the Lakers had gone to Detroit down, 0-2, this not only might have been over, it may have been a sweep.

A sweep? The undertalented, offensively challenged Pistons, from the inferior Eastern Conference, sweeping the heavily favored club with the four future Hall of Famers? There was probably one person in Vegas who bet on that one, and he probably phoned it in from a padded room.

It was close to happening. For the Lakers, uncomfortably close.

“Obviously, it’s devastating for a situation like this to happen,” Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince said.

On the other side, sudden hope. A flick of the wrist by Bryant and a surreal march to a championship picks up steam again.

“Hopefully, this momentum will carry us through the remainder of the series,” Bryant said.

At least it picked them up off the slab.

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