Lakers-Suns Preview

By BOB BAUM
Posted May 22 2010 8:11PM

PHOENIX (AP) Los Angeles Lakers fans were chanting ``Bring on Boston!'' before Game 1 of the Western Conference finals was over, and they picked up the volume near the finish of Game 2.

There are, however, at least two games to be played in Phoenix before what so many see as a foregone conclusion, a third straight trip to the NBA finals for Kobe & Co.

``Hopefully we can carry the momentum over from the way we've been playing at home,'' Lamar Odom said Saturday before the Lakers boarded their short flight to the desert for Game 3 Sunday night. ``I don't see why not.''

The Lakers seemed ready for a more difficult challenge.

``We understand how tough it's going to be in Phoenix,'' Pau Gasol said. ``The pace and energy they're going to bring is going to be hard to match, but we have to understand who we are and play to our capabilities.''

Who the Lakers are has been readily apparent to anyone paying attention - a big, gifted group of athletes whose offense has been unstoppable against the smaller Suns.

Los Angeles scored 128 and 124 points to go up 2-0 in the series and brings an eight-game playoff winning streak to Phoenix, where the Suns hope playing at home will help slow down the defending NBA champions.

Nothing else has worked.

Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry can understand Kobe Bryant and Gasol having big games. He is a bit confounded that everybody else the Lakers turn to has had them as well, be it Odom, Ron Artest, Jordan Farmar or Shannon Brown.

``It's almost like being a dike, you stick a finger in one hole and water comes out of another one,'' Gentry said. ``We've just got to find a way to have a whole lot of fingers, I guess.''

Much was made of Phoenix's bench going into the series, but Farmar has come in for the Lakers and made 8-of-11 shots, including 5-of-6 3-pointers.

When the Suns were able to rev up their offense by going with a small lineup in Game 3, Los Angeles eventually took advantage of its mismatches inside.

Gasol has been at his best, averaging 25 points while shooting 66 percent from the field. Odom had 19 points and 19 rebounds in Game 1, leading Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire to pronounce it ``a lucky game.'' Odom followed with 17 points and 11 boards in Game 2.

Stoudemire has calmly answered the critics all week, saying he was defending the way his coaches told him to and adding that he doesn't expect the Suns to double-team Bryant as much in Game 3.

Perhaps a return home will help the Suns' perimeter shooting, particularly Channing Frye, who went 1 of 13 in Los Angeles, 1 of 9 on 3-pointers. Frye has shot 50 percent on 3s at home in the playoffs (13 of 26), compared with 22 percent (8 of 35) on the road.

``I think he definitely will shoot it better at home,'' Gentry said. ``It's just one of those deals where he feels more comfortable in this building. You know, if he makes shots it changes everything.''

Stoudemire would be one of those who would benefit most from Frye hitting a few 3s, because it would bring one of the big Lakers out to the perimeter on defense.

``It helps all of us,'' Stoudemire said.

For all the talk of the bench, Gentry knows Stoudemire and Steve Nash have to be the leading performers.

``Your stars have to be stars to beat a team like the Lakers,'' Gentry said.

Nash averaged 14 assists in the first two games but only 12 points on 9-of-18 shooting. The team might like him to shoot more, but it's not that simple, Nash said.

``I've tried to go back over the games and I can't remember passing up any shots. If anything, I felt like I forced a few,'' he said. ``The way they're playing me, they're leaving guys open. They're trying to take away my opportunities. We don't have the type of offense that says `OK, Steve isn't getting enough shots, let's change our offense to this so that he does.'

``We play the way we play. People choose the way to guard and then we make the right read. It's predicated on me making the right reads.''

Besides, he said, the Suns are averaging 109.5 points and shooting just over 49 percent. That's plenty of offense. The problem is the Lakers have averaged 126 and shot 58 percent.

Phoenix has taken a few leaps backward after establishing it really can play defense.

``What we threw at them didn't work, so we're going to try to do it better and change it up and see what we can do, see how good we can be defensively,'' Nash said. ``A lot of it comes down to desire.''

Now that everyone is talking about the Lakers' offense, coach Phil Jackson wants some attention at the other end.

``Hopefully we'll be a better defensive team,'' he said.

---=

AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

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

Suns display depth in Game 3 win

By Mike Tulumello, for NBA.com
Posted Monday May 24, 2010 1:19AM

PHOENIX -- The Suns no longer are one-dimensional.

Few people outside Arizona full understood this until Sunday night, when they set aside a faltering 3-point game and attacked the basket in pulling out a 118-109 win over the Lakers.

The Lakers still lead the Western Conference Finals, 2-1, with Game 4 set for Tuesday night in Phoenix

Yes, this time it was the Suns who had the edge inside thanks to a wondrous game by Amare Stoudemire (42 points on 14-of-22 shooting) plus 11 rebounds.

"I wanted to attack their bigs a little bit and get them into foul trouble," said Stoudemire, who'd played poorly in Games 1 and 2 in Los Angeles.

Then too, the basketball world got to see the best of Robin Lopez, who gave the Suns an invaluable, second major inside weapon by hitting 8-of-10 for 20 points.

Lopez, who missed seven weeks recently with back problems, hadn't been emphasized at all in the Suns' losses in Los Angeles.

At the other end, Suns coach Alvin Gentry pulled a rabbit out of his coaching hat by using a zone defense to slow down the Lakers' offense, a juggernaut in Los Angeles.

"It took us a long time to figure it out," the Lakers Pau Gasol said of the zone, where Lopez patrolled the middle with Stoudemire playing to the left of the hoop.

The idea was to make the Lakers beat the Suns over the top while hoping the Lakers didn't shoot as well as they did in Los Angeles, Gentry said.

The truth be told, "In practice (Saturday), it was the worst it's ever been. It really wasn't good."

But the Suns decided to give it a try.

"We stuck with it, and it worked," said Gentry, who employed a zone somewhat reluctantly during the season.

"We can play a zone. I just didn't think we'd play 80 percent zone."

"It's always hard to play a zone against that triangle offense," Stoudemire said. "You have to have great activity."

The Suns also got 17 points and 15 assists (with just one turnover) from Steve Nash and 19 points from Jason Richardson.

The Suns shot just 5-for-20 on 3-pointers. But their inside emphasis got them a 42-20 free throw edge.

"They attacked the hoop tonight" while, "We stayed home on the 3-point shooters" Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.

For the Lakers, Kobe Bryant had a great game.

The superstar knocked down 13-for-24 for 36 points, and he passed for 11 assists. Gasol added 23 points and nine rebounds.

But Lamar Odom, who killed the Suns in Los Angeles, shot a modest 4-for-14. He had 10 points and six rebounds and fouled out while Ron Artest shot 4-for-13 for 12 points.

The Lakers also only got two points and two boards in eight minutes from Andrew Bynum. Jackson said he'll consider holding out the hobbling Bynum for a game.

In addition, the Lakers -- who had their NBA-best, 8-game playoff win streak broken -- may have to adjust their approach to Stoudemire.

"He's a great player," Bryant said

"He had a couple of tough games. He wasn't going to come out here and roll over. I saw this coming."

Early on, the Suns were reduced to trading Channing Frye's woeful 3-point tries -- he was 0-for-7 in the first half -- with point-blank shots by Gasol.

Add that to the fact that the Suns failed to capitalize on their 11-0 margin in first quarter free throws -- they still trailed 32-29 heading into the second quarter -- and the Lakers' chances appeared solid.

In fact, when the Lakers led 45-39 midway through the second quarter, they looked like they might knock down 120-plus points for the third straight game.

But when the Suns put the 3-pointers on hold and started getting the ball inside -- while coming up with stops at the other end -- they started to take control of the game.

Lopez gave the Suns' an inside presence as the Suns closed the half on a

15-2 run, good for a 54-47 lead.

The Suns' margin would have been greater had not Richardson missed two layups; his difficulties in converting at the rim have come up a number of times this season.

The Suns struggled to crack the game open, though, because their vaunted 3-point game -- one of the best in NBA history -- couldn't shake the Lakers' watchful defense.

The Suns led 93-92 in the final quarter when Stoudemire attacked the hoop, drew a foul and hit two free throws.

Then Bryant fumbled away a pass, and Jason Richardson took advantage by hitting a 3-pointer.

That made it 98-92 with 6:57 left.

The Suns stumbled, momentarily, on turnovers by Stoudemire and Grant Hill and a push-off foul on Nash on a rebound hauled in by Stoudemire.

The Lakers thus closed to 100-96 with 4:00 left.

Then Stoudemire, with the ball up high, spotted an opening and drove for a score.

Next, Odom fouled Lopez, and the big center converted both free throws.

After Artest missed a 3-pointer, the Suns put on a passing clinic, finally whipping the ball to Nash on the right side for a wide-open 17-footer.

He hit it. The Suns had a 106-96 lead with 2:42 left and the game.

• Lakers: Morrison
• Suns: Griffin, Jones

• Lakers: Fisher, Jackson
• Suns: Lopez

• Lead Changes: 12
• Times Tied: 16

• Arena: US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
• Officials: #13 Monty McCutchen, #32 Eddie F. Rush, #49 Tom Washington
• Attendance: 18422
• Duration: 2:36

Los Angeles Lakers (57-26)		Phoenix Suns (55-28)
Start of 1st Quarter
(12:00) Jump Ball Lopez vs Bynum (Stoudemire gains possession)
	11:51 [PHX 2-0]	Lopez Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Nash (1 AST)
Fisher Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)	11:35
Gasol Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	11:23
	11:23 [PHX 3-0]	Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)
	11:23	Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Artest Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	11:22
Gasol Jump Shot: Missed	11:10
Team Rebound	11:09
Fisher 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Bryant (1 AST)	11:03 [LAL 3-3]
	10:49	Stoudemire Jump Shot: Missed
Fisher Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	10:47
Artest 3pt Shot: Missed	10:26
Bryant Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	10:25
Bryant Turnaround Fade Away shot: Made (2 PTS)	10:22 [LAL 5-3]
Bynum Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	10:13
	10:13 [PHX 4-5]	Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 (2 PTS)
	10:13 [PHX 5-5]	Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 (3 PTS)
Gasol Hook Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Fisher (1 AST)	10:01 [LAL 7-5]
	09:43	Nash Jump Shot: Missed
	09:41	Lopez Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	09:41 [PHX 7-7]	Lopez Putback Dunk Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Gasol Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS)	09:22 [LAL 9-7]
	09:09 [PHX 9-9]	Stoudemire Jump Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Nash (2 AST)
Bynum Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	09:09
Bynum Substitution replaced by Odom	09:09
	09:09 [PHX 10-9]	Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 1 (6 PTS)
Bryant Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS)	08:57 [LAL 11-10]
	08:49	Richardson 3pt Shot: Missed
Gasol Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	08:47
Bryant Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Hill (1 ST)	08:41
Odom Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	08:38
	08:38	Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	08:38	Team Rebound
	08:38 [PHX 11-11]	Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 (7 PTS)
Bryant Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Fisher (2 AST)	08:26 [LAL 13-11]
	08:17 [PHX 13-13]	Stoudemire Jump Bank Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Nash (3 AST)
Gasol Jump Shot: Missed	08:02
	08:00	Richardson Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
Fisher Foul : Personal (1 PF)	07:55
	07:55 [PHX 14-13]	Nash Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)
	07:55 [PHX 15-13]	Nash Free Throw 2 of 2 (2 PTS)
	07:43	Richardson Foul : Personal (1 PF)
Team Timeout : Regular	07:43
Odom Alley Oop Layup shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Bryant (2 AST)	07:37 [LAL 15-15]
	07:24	Lopez Jump Shot: Missed
Gasol Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	07:22
Fisher 3pt Shot: Missed	07:01
	06:59	Stoudemire Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	06:53	Hill Pullup Bank shot: Missed
Bryant Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	06:49
Fisher Jump Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Bryant (3 AST)	06:39 [LAL 17-15]
	06:20 [PHX 17-17]	Richardson Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)
	06:18	Team Violation : Delay Of Game
	06:04	Stoudemire Foul : Personal (1 PF)
	06:04	Lopez Substitution replaced by Frye
Gasol Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS)	05:51 [LAL 19-17]
	05:40 [PHX 19-19]	Nash Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Odom Running Jump Shot: Missed	05:22
	05:21	Stoudemire Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	05:16	Richardson Alley Oop Layup shot: Missed
Fisher Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	05:15
Fisher Jump Shot: Missed	05:08
	05:07	Hill Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	05:01 [PHX 22-19]	Richardson 3pt Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Nash (5 AST)
Bryant 3pt Shot: Made (9 PTS)	04:41 [LAL 22-22]
	04:29 [PHX 24-22]	Nash Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS)
Fisher 3pt Shot: Missed	04:07
	04:05	Richardson Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	03:59 [PHX 27-22]	Richardson 3pt Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Nash (5 AST)
Fisher Jump Shot: Made (7 PTS)	03:46 [LAL 24-27]
	03:27	Frye 3pt Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	03:25
	03:25	Hill Substitution replaced by Dudley
Bryant Jump Shot: Made (11 PTS)	03:11 [LAL 26-27]
	03:01	Stoudemire Jump Shot: Missed Block: Odom (1 BLK)
	02:57	Dudley Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	02:57	Dudley Layup Shot: Missed
Artest Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	02:56
Artest Jump Shot: Missed	02:44
	02:42	Stoudemire Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	02:33	Nash Layup Shot: Missed
Gasol Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	02:32
Bryant Jump Bank Shot: Missed	02:17
Team Rebound	02:15
	02:15	Team Timeout : Regular
	02:15	Richardson Substitution replaced by Barbosa
Artest Substitution replaced by Brown	02:15
Bryant Fade Away Jumper Shot: Made (13 PTS)	02:07 [LAL 28-27]
	01:41	Frye 3pt Shot: Missed
Fisher Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	01:39
Brown Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Dudley (1 ST)	01:25
	01:20	Barbosa Layup Shot: Missed Block: Brown (1 BLK)
Odom Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	01:19
Bryant Jump Shot: Made (15 PTS)	01:07 [LAL 30-27]
	00:50.9	Frye Hook Shot: Missed
Bryant Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	00:48.9
Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed	00:42.9
	00:39.9	Nash Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
Odom Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	00:38.6
	00:38.6 [PHX 28-30]	Dudley Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)
	00:38.6	Stoudemire Substitution replaced by Amundson
Odom Substitution replaced by Artest	00:38.6
	00:38.6 [PHX 29-30]	Dudley Free Throw 2 of 2 (2 PTS)
	00:28.9	Amundson Foul : Personal (1 PF)
Gasol Dunk Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Bryant (4 AST)	00:25.1 [LAL 32-29]
	00:06.9	Barbosa Layup Shot: Missed
Brown Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	00:05.4
Brown 3pt Shot: Missed	00:00.1
Team Rebound	00:00.0
End of 1st Quarter
Los Angeles Lakers (57-26)		Phoenix Suns (55-28)
Start of 2nd QuarterBack to Top
Bynum Hook Shot: Made (2 PTS)	11:47 [LAL 34-29]
	11:47	Dudley Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Bynum Free Throw 1 of 1 Missed	11:47
Brown Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	11:44
Brown Putback Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)	11:44 [LAL 36-29]
	11:35	Dragic Foul : Offensive (1 PF)
	11:35	Dragic Turnover : Foul (1 TO)
Odom Jump Shot: Missed	11:16
	11:14	Dudley Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	11:04 [PHX 31-36]	Amundson Jump Bank Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Dragic (1 AST)
Farmar Jump Shot: Missed	10:37
	10:35	Dudley Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	10:30	Dragic Turnover : Lost Ball (2 TO) Steal:Brown (1 ST)
Artest Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Dudley (2 ST)	10:12
	10:05	Frye 3pt Shot: Missed
	10:03	Amundson Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
Artest Foul : Personal (1 PF)	10:00
	09:53	Dragic 3pt Shot: Missed
Bynum Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	09:51
Artest Jump Shot: Missed	09:34
	09:32	Frye Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
Farmar Foul : Personal (1 PF)	09:27
Odom Foul : Defense 3 Second (2 PF)	09:20
	09:20 [PHX 32-36]	Frye Free Throw Technical (1 PTS)
	09:14 [PHX 34-36]	Dragic Driving Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Bynum Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	09:14
Bynum Substitution replaced by Gasol	09:14
	09:14 [PHX 35-36]	Dragic Free Throw 1 of 1 (3 PTS)
Brown 3pt Shot: Missed	08:53
	08:51	Frye Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	08:35	Frye 3pt Shot: Missed
Gasol Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)	08:33
Gasol Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Odom (1 AST)	08:20 [LAL 38-35]
	08:07	Dudley 3pt Shot: Missed
Gasol Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)	08:05
Odom Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Dudley (3 ST)	07:50
	07:42	Dragic 3pt Shot: Missed
	07:40	Frye Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	07:38	Frye Layup Shot: Missed
	07:37	Amundson Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)
	07:37	Amundson Tip Shot: Missed
Odom Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	07:35
Brown Jump Shot: Missed	07:23
	07:21	Amundson Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)
	06:59	Frye 3pt Shot: Missed
	06:57	Amundson Rebound (Off:3 Def:1)
	06:54	Amundson Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Farmar (1 ST)
Farmar 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Brown (1 AST)	06:48 [LAL 41-35]
	06:41	Team Timeout : Regular
	06:41	Frye Substitution replaced by Lopez
	06:41	Amundson Substitution replaced by Stoudemire
Artest Substitution replaced by Bryant	06:41
Farmar Substitution replaced by Fisher	06:41
	06:28	Stoudemire Jump Shot: Missed Block: Odom (2 BLK)
Odom Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	06:25
Odom Jump Shot: Missed	06:18
	06:16	Stoudemire Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
Gasol Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	06:09
	06:09 [PHX 36-41]	Dragic Free Throw 1 of 2 (4 PTS)
	06:09	Barbosa Substitution replaced by Richardson
	06:09 [PHX 37-41]	Dragic Free Throw 2 of 2 (5 PTS)
Odom Turnover : Traveling (2 TO)	05:51
	05:51	Timeout : Official
	05:51	Dudley Substitution replaced by Hill
	05:51	Dragic Substitution replaced by Nash
Brown Substitution replaced by Artest	05:51
	05:41 [PHX 39-41]	Nash Jump Shot: Made (8 PTS)
Odom Driving Layup Shot: Missed	05:22
Bryant Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)	05:21
Bryant Jump Bank Shot: Made (17 PTS)	05:18 [LAL 43-39]
	05:03	Stoudemire Jump Shot: Missed
Bryant Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)	05:01
Bryant Fade Away Jumper Shot: Made (19 PTS)	04:53 [LAL 45-39]
	04:39	Stoudemire Jump Shot: Missed
	04:37	Stoudemire Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)
	04:35 [PHX 41-45]	Stoudemire Dunk Shot: Made (11 PTS)
Odom 3pt Shot: Missed	04:18
	04:16	Hill Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	04:06 [PHX 43-45]	Lopez Slam Dunk Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Hill (1 AST)
Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed	03:38
	03:36	Hill Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	03:29 [PHX 45-45]	Stoudemire Layup Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Nash (6 AST)
Fisher Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Hill (2 ST)	03:07
	03:03	Richardson Layup Shot: Missed
Artest Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	03:01
	02:58	Hill Foul : Personal (1 PF)
Team Timeout : Regular	02:58
Jackson Technical	02:58
	02:58 [PHX 46-45]	Nash Free Throw Technical (9 PTS)
Odom Layup Shot: Missed	02:46
	02:44	Lopez Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	02:33	Richardson Reverse Layup Shot: Missed
	02:31	Stoudemire Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)
	02:31	Stoudemire Tip Shot: Missed
Artest Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)	02:30
Artest 3pt Shot: Missed	02:22
Odom Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	02:21
Gasol Layup Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Bryant (5 AST)	02:12 [LAL 47-46]
	01:52 [PHX 48-47]	Lopez Dunk Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Nash (7 AST)
Bryant Foul : Offensive (1 PF)	01:32
Bryant Turnover : Foul (2 TO)	01:32
	01:22 [PHX 50-47]	Nash Fade Away Jumper Shot: Made (11 PTS)
	01:07	Lopez Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Odom Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	01:07
Team Rebound	01:07
Odom Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	01:07
Artest Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	01:07
Bryant Jump Shot: Missed	01:00
	00:58.8	Stoudemire Rebound (Off:2 Def:5)
Odom Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	00:54.8
	00:54.8 [PHX 51-47]	Hill Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)
Odom Substitution replaced by Powell	00:54.8
	00:54.8 [PHX 52-47]	Hill Free Throw 2 of 2 (2 PTS)
Bryant Turnover : Out of Bounds Lost Ball Turnover (3 TO)	00:31.4
Fisher Foul : Personal (2 PF)	00:13.2
	00:13.2 [PHX 53-47]	Lopez Free Throw 1 of 2 (9 PTS)
	00:13.2	Stoudemire Substitution replaced by Amundson
	00:13.2 [PHX 54-47]	Lopez Free Throw 2 of 2 (10 PTS)
Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed	00:00.1
Team Rebound	00:00.0
End of 2nd Quarter
Instant Replay - Support Ruling	00:00.0
Los Angeles Lakers (57-26)		Phoenix Suns (55-28)
Start of 3rd QuarterBack to Top
Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed	11:47
	11:45	Hill Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
	11:41 [PHX 56-47]	Richardson Jump Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Hill (2 AST)
Gasol Jump Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Bryant (6 AST)	11:21 [LAL 49-56]
	11:11	Nash Jump Shot: Missed
Bynum Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	11:09
Artest 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Bryant (7 AST)	10:58 [LAL 52-56]
	10:40 [PHX 58-52]	Stoudemire Jump Bank Shot: Made (15 PTS)
Bynum Foul : Shooting (4 PF)	10:40
Bynum Substitution replaced by Odom	10:40
	10:40 [PHX 59-52]	Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 1 (16 PTS)
Artest Layup Shot: Missed	10:24
Odom Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)	10:22
Odom Tip Shot: Made (4 PTS)	10:22 [LAL 54-59]
	10:14	Richardson 3pt Shot: Missed
Gasol Rebound (Off:0 Def:6)	10:12
	09:58	Hill Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Instant Replay - Support Ruling	09:58
Fisher Free Throw 1 of 3 (8 PTS)	09:58 [LAL 55-59]
Fisher Free Throw 2 of 3 (9 PTS)	09:58 [LAL 56-59]
Fisher Free Throw 3 of 3 (10 PTS)	09:58 [LAL 57-59]
	09:37 [PHX 61-57]	Lopez Layup Shot: Made (12 PTS)
Bryant Turnover : Bad Pass (4 TO) Steal:Stoudemire (1 ST)	09:12
	09:04 [PHX 63-57]	Richardson Running Jump Shot: Made (12 PTS)
Bryant Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	09:04
	09:04 [PHX 64-57]	Richardson Free Throw 1 of 1 (13 PTS)
Gasol Layup Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Bryant (8 AST)	08:50 [LAL 59-64]
	08:32 [PHX 67-59]	Hill 3pt Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Nash (8 AST)
Gasol Jump Shot: Missed Block: Hill (1 BLK)	08:15
Fisher Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	08:12
Fisher Jump Shot: Made (12 PTS)	08:11 [LAL 61-67]
	07:52 [PHX 69-61]	Lopez Jump Shot: Made (14 PTS)
Artest Jump Shot: Made (5 PTS)	07:33 [LAL 63-69]
	07:06	Richardson Running Jump Shot: Missed
	07:04	Stoudemire Rebound (Off:3 Def:5)
	07:04	Stoudemire Tip Shot: Missed
Odom Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)	07:02
Fisher 3pt Shot: Made (15 PTS) Assist: Bryant (9 AST)	06:54 [LAL 66-69]
	06:41 [PHX 71-66]	Stoudemire Jump Shot: Made (18 PTS) Assist: Nash (9 AST)
	06:31	Double Technical - Lopez, Fisher
Artest Reverse Layup Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Fisher (3 AST)	06:21 [LAL 68-71]
	06:08 [PHX 73-68]	Stoudemire Driving Layup Shot: Made (20 PTS)
Odom 3pt Shot: Missed	05:50
	05:48	Hill Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)
	05:37	Hill Layup Shot: Missed Block: Bryant (1 BLK)
Fisher Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	05:35
	05:20	Lopez Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
	05:20	Team Timeout : Regular
Artest Free Throw 1 of 2 (8 PTS)	05:20 [LAL 69-73]
Artest Free Throw 2 of 2 (9 PTS)	05:20 [LAL 70-73]
	05:02 [PHX 75-70]	Lopez Hook Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Nash (10 AST)
Gasol Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Hill (3 ST)	04:42
	04:33	Nash Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Bryant (1 ST)
Fisher 3pt Shot: Made (18 PTS) Assist: Odom (2 AST)	04:26 [LAL 73-75]
Odom Foul : Shooting (4 PF)	04:04
	04:04 [PHX 76-73]	Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 (21 PTS)
Odom Substitution replaced by Brown	04:04
	04:04	Hill Substitution replaced by Dudley
	04:04 [PHX 77-73]	Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 (22 PTS)
Brown 3pt Shot: Missed	03:51
	03:50	Nash Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	03:40	Lopez Jump Shot: Missed Block: Brown (2 BLK)
Artest Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)	03:38
Gasol Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (18 PTS)	03:29 [LAL 75-77]
	03:17	Richardson Jump Shot: Missed Block: Gasol (1 BLK)
Brown Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	03:16
	03:16	Richardson Foul : Personal (2 PF)
Team Timeout : Regular	03:16
	03:16	Lopez Substitution replaced by Frye
Fisher Jump Shot: Missed	03:03
	03:00	Stoudemire Rebound (Off:3 Def:6)
	02:43 [PHX 79-75]	Stoudemire Jump Shot: Made (24 PTS)
Bryant 3pt Shot: Made (22 PTS) Assist: Gasol (1 AST)	02:14 [LAL 78-79]
Artest Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	02:04
	02:04 [PHX 80-78]	Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 (25 PTS)
	02:04 [PHX 81-78]	Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 (26 PTS)
Gasol Jump Shot: Made (20 PTS) Assist: Bryant (10 AST)	01:40 [LAL 80-81]
	01:15	Richardson 3pt Shot: Missed
Bryant Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)	01:13
Artest Layup Shot: Missed	00:56.9
	00:55.6	Stoudemire Rebound (Off:3 Def:7)
Fisher Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	00:39.0
	00:39.0	Richardson Substitution replaced by Barbosa
	00:39.0	Nash Substitution replaced by Dragic
	00:39.0	Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	00:39.0	Team Rebound
	00:39.0 [PHX 82-80]	Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 (27 PTS)
	00:26.5	Barbosa Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (23 PTS)	00:26.5 [LAL 81-82]
Fisher Substitution replaced by Farmar	00:26.5
Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (24 PTS)	00:26.5 [LAL 82-82]
	00:08.3 [PHX 84-82]	Stoudemire Running Bank shot: Made (29 PTS)
	00:03.0	Barbosa Foul : Personal (2 PF)
Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (25 PTS)	00:03.0 [LAL 83-84]
Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (26 PTS)	00:03.0 [LAL 84-84]
Brown Foul : Personal (1 PF)	00:01.5
	00:01.5 [PHX 85-84]	Barbosa Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)
	00:01.5 [PHX 86-84]	Barbosa Free Throw 2 of 2 (2 PTS)
Brown 3pt Shot: Missed	00:00.1
Team Rebound	00:00.0
End of 3rd Quarter
Los Angeles Lakers (57-26)		Phoenix Suns (55-28)
Start of 4th QuarterBack to Top
	11:45	Dudley 3pt Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	11:44
Odom Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Farmar (1 AST)	11:27 [LAL 86-86]
	11:09 [PHX 88-86]	Stoudemire Driving Reverse Layup Shot: Made (31 PTS)
Bryant Turnover : Bad Pass (5 TO)	10:54
	10:40	Stoudemire Jump Shot: Missed
Farmar Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	10:38
Farmar Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Dragic (1 ST)	10:37
	10:28	Barbosa 3pt Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	10:26
	10:26	Frye Foul : Loose Ball (1 PF)
	10:16	Barbosa Foul : Personal (3 PF)
Farmar 3pt Shot: Missed	10:09
Gasol Rebound (Off:1 Def:6)	10:08
Bryant Jump Shot: Made (28 PTS)	10:02 [LAL 88-88]
Brown Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	09:54
	09:54	Dragic Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	09:54	Team Rebound
	09:54 [PHX 89-88]	Dragic Free Throw 2 of 2 (6 PTS)
Odom Jump Shot: Missed Block: Stoudemire (1 BLK)	09:30
Jump Ball Stoudemire vs Odom (Farmar gains possession)	09:30
Team Rebound	09:30
Instant Replay - Support Ruling	09:30
Farmar Turnover : Step Out of Bounds Turnover (2 TO)	09:27
	09:10	Dragic Jump Shot: Missed
	09:08	Dragic Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	08:56	Barbosa 3pt Shot: Missed
Bryant Rebound (Off:2 Def:5)	08:55
	08:47	Frye Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Timeout : Official	08:47
	08:47	Frye Substitution replaced by Lopez
	08:47	Barbosa Substitution replaced by Richardson
	08:47	Dragic Substitution replaced by Nash
Odom Free Throw 1 of 2 (7 PTS)	08:47 [LAL 89-89]
Odom Free Throw 2 of 2 (8 PTS)	08:47 [LAL 90-89]
	08:27 [PHX 91-90]	Dudley Driving Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Brown Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Richardson (1 ST)	08:06
	07:57 [PHX 93-90]	Lopez Jump Shot: Made (18 PTS) Assist: Nash (11 AST)
Odom Running Bank shot: Made (10 PTS)	07:35 [LAL 92-93]
Gasol Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	07:21
	07:21 [PHX 94-92]	Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 (32 PTS)
Farmar Substitution replaced by Fisher	07:21
Brown Substitution replaced by Artest	07:21
	07:21 [PHX 95-92]	Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 (33 PTS)
Artest Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Lopez (1 ST)	07:04
	06:58 [PHX 98-92]	Richardson 3pt Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Nash (12 AST)
Team Timeout : Regular	06:57
	06:57	Dudley Substitution replaced by Hill
Odom Foul : Offensive (5 PF)	06:46
Odom Turnover : Foul (3 TO)	06:46
	06:27	Hill Jump Bank Shot: Missed
Gasol Rebound (Off:1 Def:7)	06:24
Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed	06:20
	06:18	Hill Rebound (Off:0 Def:6)
	06:08 [PHX 100-92]	Stoudemire Jump Shot: Made (35 PTS) Assist: Nash (13 AST)
Bryant Jump Shot: Missed	05:39
	05:37	Lopez Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	05:24	Hill Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Fisher (1 ST)
Artest 3pt Shot: Missed	05:13
	05:11	Hill Rebound (Off:0 Def:7)
	04:55	Stoudemire Foul : Offensive (2 PF)
	04:55	Stoudemire Turnover : Foul (1 TO)
	04:43	Hill Foul : Personal (3 PF)
Odom 3pt Shot: Missed	04:34
Team Rebound	04:33
	04:33	Nash Foul : Loose Ball (1 PF)
Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (29 PTS)	04:33 [LAL 93-100]
Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (30 PTS)	04:33 [LAL 94-100]
Fisher Foul : Personal (4 PF)	04:24
	04:11	Nash Jump Shot: Missed
	04:10	Team Rebound
Bryant Foul : Loose Ball (3 PF)	04:10
	03:59	Nash 3pt Shot: Missed
Bryant Rebound (Off:2 Def:6)	03:56
	03:51	Lopez Foul : Personal (3 PF)
Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (31 PTS)	03:51 [LAL 95-100]
Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (32 PTS)	03:51 [LAL 96-100]
	03:39 [PHX 102-96]	Stoudemire Driving Layup Shot: Made (37 PTS)
Odom 3pt Shot: Missed	03:23
	03:20	Richardson Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
Odom Foul : Personal (6 PF)	03:16
Odom Substitution replaced by Bynum	03:16
	03:16 [PHX 103-96]	Lopez Free Throw 1 of 2 (19 PTS)
	03:16 [PHX 104-96]	Lopez Free Throw 2 of 2 (20 PTS)
Artest 3pt Shot: Missed	03:07
	03:04	Stoudemire Rebound (Off:3 Def:8)
	02:42 [PHX 106-96]	Nash Jump Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Hill (3 AST)
Team Timeout : Short	02:42
	02:42	Team Timeout : Regular
Bynum Substitution replaced by Brown	02:42
Bryant Jump Shot: Missed	02:33
Team Rebound	02:33
	02:33	Nash Foul : Loose Ball (2 PF)
Gasol Free Throw 1 of 2 (21 PTS)	02:33 [LAL 97-106]
Gasol Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	02:33
	02:32	Hill Rebound (Off:0 Def:8)
	02:19 [PHX 108-97]	Stoudemire Driving Layup Shot: Made (39 PTS)
Bryant Driving Layup Shot: Made (34 PTS)	02:05 [LAL 99-108]
	01:44	Stoudemire Foul : Offensive (3 PF)
	01:44	Stoudemire Turnover : Foul (2 TO)
Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed	01:36
Team Rebound	01:34
Artest 3pt Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Gasol (2 AST)	01:31 [LAL 102-108]
	01:12 [PHX 110-102]	Stoudemire Layup Shot: Made (41 PTS) Assist: Nash (14 AST)
Artest 3pt Shot: Missed	01:01
	00:59.9	Hill Rebound (Off:0 Def:9)
Artest Foul : Personal (3 PF)	00:48.9
	00:48.9 [PHX 111-102]	Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 (42 PTS)
	00:48.9	Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Bryant Rebound (Off:2 Def:7)	00:47.9
Bryant Running Jump Shot: Made (36 PTS)	00:41.8 [LAL 104-111]
	00:26.8 [PHX 114-104]	Richardson 3pt Shot: Made (19 PTS) Assist: Nash (15 AST)
Bryant Jump Shot: Missed	00:19.6
Gasol Rebound (Off:2 Def:7)	00:19.5
Gasol Layup Shot: Made (23 PTS)	00:19.5 [LAL 106-114]
Fisher Foul : Personal (5 PF)	00:19.0
	00:19.0 [PHX 115-106]	Nash Free Throw 1 of 2 (14 PTS)
	00:19.0	Lopez Substitution replaced by Dudley
	00:19.0 [PHX 116-106]	Nash Free Throw 2 of 2 (15 PTS)
Brown 3pt Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Bryant (11 AST)	00:10.9 [LAL 109-116]
Brown Foul : Personal (3 PF)	00:10.5
	00:10.5 [PHX 117-109]	Nash Free Throw 1 of 2 (16 PTS)
	00:10.5 [PHX 118-109]	Nash Free Throw 2 of 2 (17 PTS)
Fisher 3pt Shot: Missed	00:04.9
	00:02.9	Dudley Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
End of 4th Quarter

broadcast information
country		channel			time
usa			TNT	National	8:30 pm ET
canada			TSN	national	8:30 pm ET