Suns-Lakers Preview

By GREG BEACHAM
Posted May 16 2010 7:54PM

LOS ANGELES (AP) Kobe Bryant has barely touched a basketball in a week, giving his gimpy ankle and arthritic finger time to heal. That purplish, jagged gouge over Steve Nash's right eye also should be one week less ghastly by tipoff time in the Western Conference finals.

Although both stars play a beautiful game, Bryant and Nash realize postseason basketball is rarely pretty, and they wouldn't expect to escape the postseason without a few ugly souvenirs of the playoff grind.

After both teams got a week off to rest and recalibrate, the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers will attempt to reach their third straight NBA finals when they take on the Phoenix Suns, starting in Game 1 on Monday night.

``It's all part of the game, every part of it,'' Bryant said. ``I love a long layoff. Everybody on our team is pretty much banged up, so it's good to get rest and get ready for what's in front of you.''

Bryant has been cagey about his interest in revenge on the Suns for ending the Lakers' season in the 2006 and 2007 playoffs, alternately embracing and downplaying it. Three years can be an eternity in the here-today, gone-later-today world of pro sports, but Bryant, Lamar Odom and a few other Lakers from those teams have mentioned a passing interest in payback.

``I don't forget much,'' Odom said.

There's no doubt about Phoenix's motivation: Late in what's starting to resemble a charmed season, Nash is hoping the Suns will get him to the NBA finals for the first time. His 112 career postseason games are the most in NBA history without the chance to play for a title.

The 36-year-old Canadian's eye injury makes him look more like a hockey goon than a point guard, yet Phoenix finally has the talent and opportunity to reach the finals - if the Suns can just find a way past Bryant, Pau Gasol and the favored, playoff-tested Lakers.

``I've tried to enjoy it,'' Nash said before boarding a bus Sunday for the Suns' trip to Los Angeles. ``Now that it's here, I'm trying to enjoy every moment that's in the playoffs.''

Bryant and Nash have more in common than trophy cases full of MVP awards and All-Star honors. They share a creative approach to basketball influenced by the geometry of soccer and European hoops, constantly lending moments of beauty to the brutal course of an 82-game NBA season and a two-month playoff campaign - and leading to a mostly unspoken kinship.

``He's a great passer, a great penetrator, great shooter,'' Bryant said. ``They surrounded him with guys that complement him and feed off him, and they're a great offensive team.''

Yet as the stars' battered bodies attest, sometimes playoff success is due simply to outworking, outmuscling and outlasting opponents. Los Angeles has held teams to 41 percent shooting in the postseason, while smallish Phoenix has outrebounded its playoff foes while outscoring them by nearly 10 points per game.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson already teased Nash for carrying the ball, but carrying momentum is much tougher following a full week off. Although the Lakers and Phoenix both swept their second-round opponents and won six straight playoff games overall, neither expects to ride last week's wave into Staples Center.

``With this break, we're back to Square One now,'' Lakers point guard Derek Fisher said. ``To empty that jar out and then fill it back up is not easy, but we have to be prepared to do that.''

Phoenix forward Amare Stoudemire realizes Los Angeles is favored because of length and strength: the superior size of the Lakers' frontcourt with 7-footers Gasol and Andrew Bynum, along with Bryant's ferocious competitive edge. Yet the Suns routed San Antonio in four straight second-round games, negating Tim Duncan's size advantage and suggesting they're a title contender after missing the playoffs last spring.

``That's fine,'' Stoudemire said of the Lakers' favored status. ``It's been like that all season. We've been able to accomplish things that were unreachable, for the most part.''

Jackson has expressed admiration for the way Nash and his teammates have maximized coach Alvin Gentry's offense, which modifies the Suns' former run-and-gun formula into something more versatile.

``We have to be who we are,'' Gentry said. ``We're not going to play any differently than we've played all season. We have to be able to create lanes and avenues for Steve to drive. We've got to be able to penetrate and pitch when they help with their bigs. We've got to be able to run screen-and-roll as we always do, pick and pop. When we do that, we have success.''

Yet when the Lakers are healthy and focused, no West teams have been able to knock them off their game for three years - and the Suns lost three of four to Los Angeles in the regular season.

``I'm not at all amazed or astounded at what they've done,'' Jackson said of the Suns. ``We knew from the very first time we played them that they were going to be a team ... to deal with at some point in the playoffs. They made some growth during the year, and they're playing some better basketball, which is what you expect.''

Bryant and Bynum didn't speak to reporters Sunday after skipping most of the Lakers' final practice, but both will play. Although Bynum said Saturday his injured right knee gradually is getting worse, Jackson thinks Bynum likely could play 30 minutes or more if his time is split into manageable segments.

Suns big man Robin Lopez is expected to make his playoff debut in his first game since late March after sitting out the first two playoff rounds with a bulging disc. Lopez should give Phoenix better inside defense, yet the Suns still realize they'll be undermanned underneath the hoop.

``We certainly don't want to play into their hands and for it to be a slow methodical game where their size can be a factor,'' Nash said. ``We want to be able to push the ball down the court and create openings and opportunities with our quickness and ball movement.''

Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Bryant's 40 keys Lakers' rout of Suns in Game 1

By Bryan Chu, for NBA.com
Posted Tuesday May 18, 2010 2:13AM

LOS ANGELES (NBA.com exclusive) -- Question marks surrounding Kobe Bryant's knee were put to rest. So were the doubts circling the Lakers bench.

After seven days of rest, the Lakers had an emphatic answer to those uncertainties in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

Behind Bryant's explosive outing and the resurgence of Lamar Odom, the Lakers handed the Suns a 128-107 beatdown Monday at Staples Center.

"This was surprising for us," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson of the lopsided victory, adding later, "Maybe we've peaked."

Despite being plagued by injuries all season and taking an entire week off from practice, Bryant has been having arguably the best postseason of his career.

Bryant scored a game-high 40 points, including a 21-point surge in the third quarter. He went 13-for-23 from the field and 11-for-12 from the line.

This performance marked the first time in his 14 seasons he has scored 30 or more points in six straight playoff contests. His previous high was five (2009, 2008, 2003). Possibly more impressive has been the fact Bryant has been shooting a blistering 52.2 percent during this span.

The key: "Old age," Bryant joked.

"Now I feel like I have two legs to play with. I have better balance on my shot, and shots aren't going short anymore."

Odom was a huge spark off the bench. He finished with 19 points and 19 rebounds, a playoff career-high.

"I didn't want to really wait," said Odom, who was averaging 8.5 points and 8.1 rebounds in the playoffs before Monday. "I said to myself if I'm going to have a bad game, then I'm going to have a bad game going out swinging ... I tried to attack."

The win was the Lakers' seventh straight in these playoffs, with Game 2 set for Wednesday at Staples Center.

The defending champs now have the odds on their side. Teams that have taken a 1-0 series lead in a best-of-seven series have gone on to win 317-of-405 (78.3 percent).

In the loss, six players finished in double figures for Phoenix.

Amar'e Stoudemire scored a team-high 23 points, but only had three rebounds. Steve Nash finished with 13 points and 13 assists.

Robin Lopez was one of the few bright spots for the Suns. Lopez showed little lag in his first game back since missing six weeks with a back injury. He finished with 14 points on 6-for-7 from the field in 24 minutes.

"He played well for us," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "Hopefully he'll continue to get better in the series."

The Suns, who came in as the top 3-point shooting team in the playoffs at 41.7 percent, went 5-for-22 from deep. The potent Phoenix bench players struggled as well. They went a combined 13-for-32 and were outscored by the Lakers' bench 44-35.

Nevertheless, Bryant knew not to look into the Suns' struggles after just one game.

"To be honest," Bryant said. "They missed a lot of shots they've made this entire postseason....We've got to do a much better job in Game 2 and the rest of the series."

The Lakers took a page out of the Suns run-and-gun style book. They simply ran the Suns, who still shot 49.4 percent, off the court.

At one point, Los Angeles' lead swelled to as many as 28 points, 117-89. Contributions came from nearly every player. Pau Gasol had an efficient 21-point performance on 10-for-13 shooting and Artest also added 14.

Phoenix had few answers.

"You know," Nash said. "I think our room for error is small. They're a lot bigger than we are...so we've got to try to cut down on some of those transition buckets, offensive rebounds, you know, defensive lapses, whatever it is."

"Our bench wasn't great tonight. Our starters weren't great tonight. We've got to all play better."

Bryant seemingly carried the Lakers from the start of the game to the finish, but left his mark in the third period, with one play standing out in particular.

After being pushed by Suns center Channing Frye, Bryant still managed to lay in a finger-roll. When he landed, he mouthed "yeah, yeah" as he nodded his head.

Bryant tallied 21 of the team's 31 points in the period. He nearly outscored Phoenix, which had 24, by himself. Bryant shrugged off the physical play of Grant Hill and, for the most part, Jared Dudley was ineffective.

"He was more aggressive and assertive than I have seen on film," Dudley said.

The Suns did keep the game within single digits for most of the first half and trailed by just seven, 62-55, at halftime. However, the Lakers outscored the Suns 66-52 in the second half.

Not forgotten in the win was Andrew Bynum's lackluster performance.

Bynum finished with four points and four rebounds in 19 minutes and said the torn meniscus in his right knee is still "painful."

"It's more mental," said Bynum, who has 10 points combined in the past three games. "I just have to trust in myself to go up and dunk the ball, instead of laying stuff up."

Stepping up in his place, however, was Odom. When he checked in at the 5:31 mark of the first quarter, Odom provided a spark.

He drilled a 3-pointer and established himself in the post. He scored seven straight Laker points, which was part of an 18-4 closing rally to push the Lakers up 35-26 at the end of the first quarter.

"(He) jumpstarted us, no doubt about it," Jackson said.

During that rally, Bryant picked up his play too. None was more spectacular than his 18-foot fallaway from the right baseline behind the backboard just as the buzzer sounded.

"It's important in Game 1 to show them that this is going to be a fight," Bryant said.

Grant Hill said it best at the end of the game when it came to figuring out Bryant.

"[Kobe] is the best player in the game," Hill said. "I don't know exactly what we did wrong or right tonight."

• Suns: Griffin, Jones
• Lakers: Morrison

• Suns: Hill
• Lakers: Bryant

• Lead Changes: 1
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
• Officials: #48 Scott Foster, #23 Jason Phillips, #57 Greg Willard
• Attendance: 18997
• Duration: 2:28

Phoenix Suns (54-29)		Los Angeles Lakers (58-25)
Start of 1st Quarter
(12:00) Jump Ball Bynum vs Lopez (Artest gains possession)
	11:43	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
Stoudemire Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	11:42
Stoudemire Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Hill (1 AST)	11:29 [PHX 2-0]
	11:12	Artest Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed
Richardson Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	11:10
Richardson 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Nash (1 AST)	10:59 [PHX 5-0]
	10:36	Fisher Jump Shot: Missed
Hill Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	10:35
Lopez Layup Shot: Missed Block: Gasol (1 BLK)	10:26
	10:24	Bryant Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	10:15	Bynum Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Stoudemire (1 ST)
	10:10	Fisher Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 (3 PTS)	10:10 [PHX 6-0]
Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 (4 PTS)	10:10 [PHX 7-0]
	09:59 [LAL 2-7]	Fisher Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Richardson 3pt Shot: Missed Block: Artest (1 BLK)	09:46
	09:44	Bryant Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
Richardson Foul : Personal (1 PF)	09:43
	09:31 [LAL 4-7]	Gasol Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Nash Turnaround Fade Away shot: Made (2 PTS)	09:19 [PHX 9-4]
	09:03 [LAL 6-9]	Artest Driving Finger Roll Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Lopez Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Nash (2 AST)	08:52 [PHX 11-6]
	08:31	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
Richardson Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	08:30
Nash Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Fisher (1 ST)	08:15
Nash Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	08:09
	08:09 [LAL 7-11]	Fisher Free Throw 1 of 2 (3 PTS)
	08:09 [LAL 8-11]	Fisher Free Throw 2 of 2 (4 PTS)
Hill Layup Shot: Missed	07:45
Lopez Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	07:44
Lopez Putback Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS)	07:44 [PHX 13-8]
	07:29 [LAL 11-13]	Artest 3pt Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Bryant (1 AST)
	07:23	Gasol Foul : Personal (1 PF)
Lopez Substitution replaced by Frye	07:23
Hill Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Nash (3 AST)	07:13 [PHX 15-11]
	06:56 [LAL 13-15]	Bynum Driving Slam Dunk Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Artest (1 AST)
Nash Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS)	06:44 [PHX 17-13]
	06:24 [LAL 15-17]	Gasol Driving Hook Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Richardson 3pt Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Nash (4 AST)	06:09 [PHX 20-15]
	05:49	Gasol Jump Shot: Missed
Stoudemire Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	05:48
Frye 3pt Shot: Missed	05:40
	05:39	Bynum Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
Stoudemire Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	05:31
	05:31	Team Timeout : Regular
	05:31	Bynum Substitution replaced by Odom
	05:31 [LAL 16-20]	Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)
	05:31 [LAL 17-20]	Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (2 PTS)
Hill Jump Shot: Missed	05:13
Richardson Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	05:11
Stoudemire Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Hill (2 AST)	05:03 [PHX 22-17]
	04:46	Artest Layup Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	04:45
Stoudemire Jump Shot: Missed	04:33
	04:32	Odom Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	04:24 [LAL 19-22]	Odom Jump Bank Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Hill Foul : Offensive (1 PF)	04:12
Hill Turnover : Foul (1 TO)	04:12
	04:00 [LAL 22-22]	Odom 3pt Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Fisher (1 AST)
	03:51	Odom Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Hill Substitution replaced by Dudley	03:51
Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 (7 PTS)	03:51 [PHX 23-22]
Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	03:51
	03:51	Odom Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	03:30	Odom Layup Shot: Missed
	03:25	Odom Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	03:25 [LAL 24-23]	Odom Tip Shot: Made (7 PTS)
Richardson Jump Shot: Missed	03:12
	03:10	Gasol Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
Dudley Foul : Personal (1 PF)	03:04
Dudley Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	02:52
Team Timeout : Regular	02:52
	02:52 [LAL 25-23]	Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (3 PTS)
	02:52 [LAL 26-23]	Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (4 PTS)
Frye 3pt Shot: Missed	02:30
	02:29	Odom Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	02:17	Artest 3pt Shot: Missed
Dudley Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	02:16
Dudley Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Artest (1 ST)	02:08
	01:46	Team Timeout : Short
	01:43 [LAL 28-23]	Gasol Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Artest (2 AST)
Nash 3pt Shot: Missed	01:27
Stoudemire Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	01:25
Nash Jump Shot: Missed	01:13
	01:12	Artest Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	01:00 [LAL 30-23]	Bryant Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS)
Frye 3pt Shot: Missed	00:42.9
	00:41.7	Gasol Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	00:34.0 [LAL 33-23]	Bryant 3pt Shot: Made (9 PTS)
	00:30.4	Gasol Foul : Personal (2 PF)
Nash Substitution replaced by Dragic	00:30.4
	00:30.4	Gasol Substitution replaced by Mbenga
	00:30.4	Fisher Substitution replaced by Farmar
Frye 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Stoudemire (1 AST)	00:15.7 [PHX 26-33]
	00:01.2 [LAL 35-26]	Bryant Running Jump Shot: Made (11 PTS)
Instant Replay - Support Ruling	00:00.0
End of 1st Quarter
Phoenix Suns (54-29)		Los Angeles Lakers (58-25)
Start of 2nd QuarterBack to Top
	11:43	Brown Foul : Personal (1 PF)
Dragic Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Barbosa (1 AST)	11:34 [PHX 28-35]
	11:15 [LAL 37-28]	Artest Fade Away Jumper Shot: Made (7 PTS)
Frye 3pt Shot: Missed	10:53
	10:53	Team Rebound
Frye Foul : Loose Ball (1 PF)	10:53
	10:46 [LAL 39-28]	Odom Layup Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Artest (3 AST)
Barbosa Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)	10:30 [PHX 30-39]
	10:06	Farmar Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Frye (1 ST)
Dragic Driving Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS)	09:51 [PHX 32-39]
	09:30	Brown Jump Shot: Missed
	09:29	Odom Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)
	09:28 [LAL 41-32]	Odom Putback Layup Shot: Made (11 PTS)
Barbosa Running Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS)	09:18 [PHX 34-41]
	09:18	Bynum Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Barbosa Free Throw 1 of 1 (5 PTS)	09:18 [PHX 35-41]
	09:07	Odom Jump Shot: Missed
	09:05	Bynum Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	09:05 [LAL 43-35]	Bynum Putback Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Frye Jump Shot: Missed	08:48
	08:47	Artest Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	08:27	Brown Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Amundson (1 ST)
	08:21	Farmar Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Timeout : Official	08:21
Frye Substitution replaced by Lopez	08:21
	08:21	Artest Substitution replaced by Bryant
Dudley Substitution replaced by Hill	08:21
Dragic Free Throw 1 of 2 (5 PTS)	08:21 [PHX 36-43]
Dragic Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	08:21
	08:21	Odom Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)
	08:04 [LAL 46-36]	Farmar 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Brown (1 AST)
Lopez Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Dragic (1 AST)	07:39 [PHX 38-46]
	07:17 [LAL 48-38]	Farmar Jump Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Odom (1 AST)
Barbosa Running Layup Shot: Missed	06:57
	06:57	Bynum Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	06:49	Brown Jump Shot: Missed
Lopez Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	06:48
Dragic 3pt Shot: Missed	06:42
Amundson Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	06:40
	06:31	Brown Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Amundson Substitution replaced by Stoudemire	06:31
Hill Free Throw 1 of 2 (3 PTS)	06:31 [PHX 39-48]
	06:31	Brown Substitution replaced by Vujacic
Barbosa Substitution replaced by Richardson	06:31
Hill Free Throw 2 of 2 (4 PTS)	06:31 [PHX 40-48]
	06:17 [LAL 50-40]	Odom Layup Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Farmar (1 AST)
	05:58	Odom Foul : Defense 3 Second (1 PF)
	05:58	Team Timeout : Regular
	05:58	Bynum Substitution replaced by Gasol
	05:58	Farmar Substitution replaced by Fisher
	05:58	Vujacic Substitution replaced by Artest
Hill Free Throw Technical (5 PTS)	05:58 [PHX 41-50]
Stoudemire Fade Away Jumper Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Richardson (1 AST)	05:49 [PHX 43-50]
	05:32 [LAL 52-43]	Odom Running Layup Shot: Made (15 PTS)
Richardson Jump Shot: Missed	05:04
	05:03	Artest Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	05:01	Hill Violation:Kicked Ball
Dragic Substitution replaced by Nash	05:01
	04:49	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
Lopez Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	04:48
Stoudemire Driving Dunk Shot: Made (11 PTS) Assist: Richardson (2 AST)	04:40 [PHX 45-52]
	04:07	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
Richardson Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	04:06
Lopez Driving Slam Dunk Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Nash (5 AST)	03:57 [PHX 47-52]
Lopez Foul : Personal (1 PF)	03:39
	03:25 [LAL 54-47]	Artest Jump Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Bryant (2 AST)
	03:16	Fisher Foul : Personal (2 PF)
Nash Free Throw 1 of 2 (5 PTS)	03:16 [PHX 48-54]
Nash Free Throw 2 of 2 (6 PTS)	03:16 [PHX 49-54]
	03:04 [LAL 56-49]	Bryant Jump Shot: Made (13 PTS)
Stoudemire Driving Layup Shot: Missed	02:52
	02:51	Odom Rebound (Off:2 Def:5)
	02:45	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
Richardson Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	02:44
Hill Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed	02:36
Team Rebound	02:36
	02:36	Odom Foul : Loose Ball (2 PF)
Team Timeout : Regular	02:36
Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 (12 PTS)	02:36 [PHX 50-56]
Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	02:36
	02:35	Artest Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
	02:20	Gasol Layup Shot: Missed Block: Lopez (1 BLK)
	02:20	Jump Ball Gasol vs Lopez (Odom gains possession)
	02:20	Team Rebound
	02:12 [LAL 58-50]	Gasol Layup Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Bryant (3 AST)
Nash Floating Jump shot: Missed	01:56
	01:54	Odom Rebound (Off:2 Def:6)
Richardson Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	01:35
	01:35	Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	01:35	Team Rebound
Lopez Substitution replaced by Frye	01:35
	01:35	Odom Substitution replaced by Powell
	01:35	Gasol Substitution replaced by Mbenga
	01:35 [LAL 59-50]	Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (14 PTS)
Team Turnover : Shot Clock Turnover	01:11
	00:55.9	Bryant Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Hill (1 ST)
	00:46.7	Bryant Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	00:46.7
Team Rebound	00:46.7
Richardson Substitution replaced by Dragic	00:46.7
	00:46.7	Mbenga Substitution replaced by Vujacic
Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 (13 PTS)	00:46.7 [PHX 51-59]
Nash Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	00:38.9
	00:38.9	Fisher Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	00:38.9	Team Rebound
	00:38.9 [LAL 60-51]	Fisher Free Throw 2 of 2 (5 PTS)
Fisher Violation:Kicked Ball	00:31.8
	00:31.8	Fisher Substitution replaced by Brown
Stoudemire Dunk Shot: Made (15 PTS) Assist: Nash (6 AST)	00:24.6 [PHX 53-60]
	00:04.4	Bryant Layup Shot: Missed
	00:04.4	Powell Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	00:04.4 [LAL 62-53]	Powell Putback Dunk Shot: Made (2 PTS)
	00:00.6	Vujacic Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Hill Free Throw 1 of 3 Missed	00:00.6
Team Rebound	00:00.6
Hill Free Throw 2 of 3 (6 PTS)	00:00.6 [PHX 54-62]
Hill Free Throw 3 of 3 (7 PTS)	00:00.6 [PHX 55-62]
End of 2nd Quarter
Phoenix Suns (54-29)		Los Angeles Lakers (58-25)
Start of 3rd QuarterBack to Top
Nash Layup Shot: Missed	11:42
	11:41	Bryant Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
Hill Foul : Personal (2 PF)	11:29
	11:13 [LAL 64-55]	Bryant Turnaround Fade Away shot: Made (16 PTS)
Lopez Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Nash (7 AST)	10:59 [PHX 57-64]
Stoudemire Foul : Personal (2 PF)	10:41
	10:29 [LAL 66-57]	Gasol Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS)
Lopez Layup Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Hill (3 AST)	10:16 [PHX 59-66]
	10:05 [LAL 68-59]	Bryant Floating Jump shot: Made (18 PTS)
Nash Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO)	09:57
	09:37 [LAL 71-59]	Bryant 3pt Shot: Made (21 PTS) Assist: Artest (4 AST)
Nash Running Layup Shot: Made (8 PTS)	09:23 [PHX 61-71]
	09:05	Gasol Jump Shot: Missed
Lopez Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	09:04
Stoudemire Jump Shot: Made (17 PTS) Assist: Nash (8 AST)	08:53 [PHX 63-71]
	08:33 [LAL 73-63]	Artest Jump Shot: Made (11 PTS)
Hill Jump Shot: Missed	08:17
	08:16	Fisher Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
Hill Foul : Loose Ball (3 PF)	08:03
	07:53	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
	07:53	Bynum Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)
	07:53	Bynum Tip Shot: Missed
Nash Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	07:52
	07:48	Bryant Technical
Nash Free Throw Technical (9 PTS)	07:48 [PHX 64-73]
Richardson Step Back Jump shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Nash (9 AST)	07:41 [PHX 66-73]
	07:26 [LAL 75-66]	Bryant Jump Shot: Made (23 PTS)
Stoudemire Jump Shot: Made (19 PTS) Assist: Nash (10 AST)	07:15 [PHX 68-75]
	06:53	Fisher Jump Shot: Missed
	06:50	Fisher Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
Lopez Foul : Personal (2 PF)	06:50
Hill Foul : Personal (4 PF)	06:45
Hill Technical	06:45
	06:45 [LAL 76-68]	Bryant Free Throw Technical (24 PTS)
Hill Substitution replaced by Dudley	06:45
	06:45 [LAL 77-68]	Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (25 PTS)
	06:45 [LAL 78-68]	Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (26 PTS)
Richardson Driving Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Nash (11 AST)	06:36 [PHX 70-78]
	06:21	Bynum Layup Shot: Missed
Lopez Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	06:20
Stoudemire Jump Shot: Missed Block: Gasol (2 BLK)	06:08
	06:07	Bryant Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
	06:03 [LAL 80-70]	Gasol Dunk Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Bryant (4 AST)
Nash Turnover : Bad Pass (3 TO) Steal:Fisher (2 ST)	05:53
	05:42	Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed
Nash Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	05:40
Nash 3pt Shot: Missed	05:35
	05:34	Bryant Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)
	05:21	Bynum Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO)
	05:21	Team Timeout : Regular
Lopez Substitution replaced by Frye	05:21
	05:21	Bynum Substitution replaced by Odom
Stoudemire Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Bryant (1 ST)	05:07
	04:52 [LAL 82-70]	Bryant Jump Shot: Made (28 PTS)
Nash Driving Jump shot: Made (11 PTS)	04:32 [PHX 72-82]
	04:15 [LAL 84-72]	Gasol Fade Away Jumper Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Artest (5 AST)
	04:15	Team Violation : Delay Of Game
	04:03	Fisher Foul : Personal (3 PF)
Frye 3pt Shot: Missed	03:52
	03:50	Artest Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)
	03:35 [LAL 86-72]	Bryant Layup Shot: Made (30 PTS) Assist: Gasol (1 AST)
Frye Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	03:35
	03:35 [LAL 87-72]	Bryant Free Throw 1 of 1 (31 PTS)
Nash Turnover : Lost Ball (4 TO) Steal:Odom (1 ST)	03:18
	03:15 [LAL 89-72]	Bryant Driving Slam Dunk Shot: Made (33 PTS) Assist: Odom (2 AST)
Team Timeout : Regular	03:14
Stoudemire Driving Layup Shot: Missed	03:08
	03:07	Odom Rebound (Off:2 Def:7)
	02:45 [LAL 91-72]	Gasol Fade Away Jumper Shot: Made (16 PTS)
Nash Jump Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Stoudemire (2 AST)	02:29 [PHX 74-91]
	02:06	Artest 3pt Shot: Missed
	02:05	Odom Rebound (Off:3 Def:7)
	02:01	Bryant Turnover : Lost Ball (2 TO) Steal:Richardson (1 ST)
Dudley 3pt Shot: Missed	01:52
	01:51	Odom Rebound (Off:3 Def:8)
	01:31	Odom 3pt Shot: Missed
Nash Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	01:30
Richardson Jump Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Nash (12 AST)	01:19 [PHX 76-91]
	01:01	Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed
Nash Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)	00:59.9
Richardson 3pt Shot: Made (15 PTS) Assist: Nash (13 AST)	00:55.0 [PHX 79-91]
	00:43.9	Artest Jump Shot: Missed
	00:41.8	Odom Rebound (Off:4 Def:8)
	00:19.9	Odom Jump Shot: Missed
Frye Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	00:18.6
Frye Turnover : Step Out of Bounds Turnover (1 TO)	00:11.8
Stoudemire Substitution replaced by Amundson	00:11.8
Nash Substitution replaced by Dragic	00:11.8
	00:11.8	Artest Substitution replaced by Farmar
	00:11.8	Gasol Substitution replaced by Brown
Dudley Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	00:03.6
	00:03.6 [LAL 92-79]	Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (34 PTS)
	00:03.6	Fisher Substitution replaced by Vujacic
	00:03.6 [LAL 93-79]	Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (35 PTS)
	00:01.2	Farmar Foul : Personal (2 PF)
Richardson 3pt Shot: Missed	00:00.4
Team Rebound	00:00.0
End of 3rd Quarter
Phoenix Suns (54-29)		Los Angeles Lakers (58-25)
Start of 4th QuarterBack to Top
	11:48	Odom Turnover : Out of Bounds Lost Ball Turnover (1 TO)
Barbosa Driving Layup Shot: Made (7 PTS)	11:39 [PHX 81-93]
	11:23 [LAL 95-81]	Brown Driving Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Barbosa Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	11:23
	11:23 [LAL 96-81]	Brown Free Throw 1 of 1 (3 PTS)
Dragic Layup Shot: Missed	11:04
Amundson Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)	11:02
Amundson Putback Dunk Shot: Made (2 PTS)	11:02 [PHX 83-96]
	10:42 [LAL 99-83]	Bryant 3pt Shot: Made (38 PTS) Assist: Farmar (2 AST)
Frye 3pt Shot: Missed	10:24
	10:23	Gasol Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	10:16	Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed
	10:15	Odom Rebound (Off:5 Def:8)
Dragic Foul : Personal (1 PF)	10:15
Frye Substitution replaced by Stoudemire	10:15
	10:04	Odom Layup Shot: Missed Block: Amundson (1 BLK)
	10:03	Odom Rebound (Off:6 Def:8)
	10:02	Odom Layup Shot: Missed Block: Stoudemire (1 BLK)
	10:01	Odom Rebound (Off:7 Def:8)
	10:01	Stoudemire Violation:Defensive Goaltending
	10:01 [LAL 101-83]	Odom Layup Shot: Made (17 PTS)
	09:50	Odom Foul : Shooting (3 PF)
Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 (21 PTS)	09:50 [PHX 84-101]
Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 (21 PTS)	09:50 [PHX 85-101]
	09:35 [LAL 103-85]	Bryant Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (40 PTS) Assist: Farmar (3 AST)
	09:25	Farmar Foul : Personal (3 PF)
Dragic Jump Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Richardson (3 AST)	09:21 [PHX 87-103]
Dragic Foul : Personal (2 PF)	09:13
	09:09 [LAL 105-87]	Gasol Layup Shot: Made (18 PTS) Assist: Bryant (5 AST)
Amundson Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	09:09
	09:09 [LAL 106-87]	Gasol Free Throw 1 of 1 (19 PTS)
Barbosa Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Brown (1 ST)	08:58
Richardson Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	08:53
	08:53	Timeout : Official
	08:53	Bryant Substitution replaced by Artest
	08:53	Brown Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	08:53	Team Rebound
	08:53 [LAL 107-87]	Brown Free Throw 2 of 2 (4 PTS)
Stoudemire Jump Shot: Missed	08:38
	08:37	Odom Rebound (Off:7 Def:9)
	08:26 [LAL 110-87]	Farmar 3pt Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Gasol (2 AST)
Richardson Jump Shot: Missed	08:11
Amundson Rebound (Off:3 Def:0)	08:10
Amundson Tip Shot: Missed	08:10
Amundson Rebound (Off:4 Def:0)	08:09
Amundson Tip Shot: Missed	08:09
	08:08	Brown Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	07:58 [LAL 113-87]	Brown 3pt Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Farmar (4 AST)
Dragic Jump Shot: Made (9 PTS)	07:32 [PHX 89-113]
	07:17 [LAL 115-89]	Gasol Dunk Shot: Made (21 PTS) Assist: Odom (3 AST)
Richardson 3pt Shot: Missed	07:04
	07:03	Odom Rebound (Off:7 Def:10)
	06:51 [LAL 117-89]	Farmar Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Gasol (3 AST)
Stoudemire Floating Jump shot: Made (23 PTS) Assist: Barbosa (2 AST)	06:36 [PHX 91-117]
	06:07	Artest Jump Shot: Missed
Richardson Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)	06:06
	06:02	Farmar Foul : Shooting (4 PF)
Stoudemire Substitution replaced by Lopez	06:02
Richardson Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	06:02
Team Rebound	06:02
Richardson Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	06:02
	06:01	Odom Rebound (Off:7 Def:11)
	05:46	Brown Jump Shot: Missed
Amundson Rebound (Off:4 Def:1)	05:45
Dragic Jump Shot: Missed	05:37
Dragic Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	05:36
Dragic Layup Shot: Made (11 PTS)	05:30 [PHX 93-117]
	05:11	Artest 3pt Shot: Missed
Amundson Rebound (Off:4 Def:2)	05:09
Barbosa Jump Shot: Made (9 PTS)	04:55 [PHX 95-117]
	04:52	Team Timeout : Regular
Richardson Substitution replaced by Dudley	04:52
	04:31	Farmar Jump Shot: Missed
Dudley Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	04:30
Barbosa Running Jump Shot: Made (11 PTS)	04:22 [PHX 97-117]
	04:02 [LAL 119-97]	Odom Layup Shot: Made (19 PTS) Assist: Gasol (4 AST)
Amundson Jump Shot: Missed	03:47
Dudley Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	03:46
Dudley Turnover : Lost Ball (2 TO) Steal:Artest (2 ST)	03:44
	03:36	Artest 3pt Shot: Missed
	03:35	Gasol Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	03:32 [LAL 121-97]	Artest Layup Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Gasol (5 AST)
Dudley 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Dragic (2 AST)	03:20 [PHX 100-121]
Dudley Foul : Personal (4 PF)	03:07
	03:07 [LAL 122-100]	Artest Free Throw 1 of 2 (14 PTS)
	03:07	Artest Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Dragic Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	03:06
Barbosa 3pt Shot: Missed	02:58
	02:57	Odom Rebound (Off:7 Def:12)
	02:44	Gasol Turnover : 3 Second Violation (1 TO)
Team Timeout : Regular	02:44
	02:44	Artest Substitution replaced by Walton
	02:44	Gasol Substitution replaced by Powell
	02:44	Odom Substitution replaced by Mbenga
Dragic Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Farmar (1 ST)	02:28
	02:27	Farmar Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Dudley (1 ST)
	02:27	Powell Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Dudley Free Throw 1 of 2 (4 PTS)	02:27 [PHX 101-122]
Dudley Free Throw 2 of 2 (5 PTS)	02:27 [PHX 102-122]
	02:04	Farmar 3pt Shot: Missed
Dudley Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	02:03
	02:00	Farmar Foul : Personal (5 PF)
Dragic Free Throw 1 of 2 (12 PTS)	02:00 [PHX 103-122]
Dragic Free Throw 2 of 2 (13 PTS)	02:00 [PHX 104-122]
	01:41	Mbenga Jump Shot: Missed
Dragic Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	01:40
Dudley 3pt Shot: Missed	01:31
	01:30	Mbenga Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	01:28 [LAL 124-104]	Brown Dunk Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Mbenga (1 AST)
Dudley 3pt Shot: Missed	01:07
Team Rebound	01:07
	01:07	Walton Foul : Loose Ball (1 PF)
Amundson Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	01:07
Team Rebound	01:07
Amundson Free Throw 2 of 2 (3 PTS)	01:07 [PHX 105-124]
	00:44.7 [LAL 126-105]	Mbenga Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Farmar (5 AST)
Dudley 3pt Shot: Missed	00:29.5
Lopez Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)	00:29.5
	00:29.5	Brown Foul : Shooting (3 PF)
Lopez Free Throw 1 of 2 (13 PTS)	00:29.5 [PHX 106-126]
Lopez Free Throw 2 of 2 (14 PTS)	00:29.5 [PHX 107-126]
	00:12.7 [LAL 128-107]	Walton Turnaround Fade Away shot: Made (2 PTS)
End of 4th Quarter

broadcast information
country		channel			time
usa			TNT	National	9:00 pm ET
canada			TSN	national	9:00 pm ET