Lakers-Suns Preview

By BOB BAUM
Posted May 28 2010 9:14PM

PHOENIX (AP) Steve Nash says he's no ``Joe Namath who walked in in his fur coat'' but the Suns playmaker is not backing away from his post-game promise that Phoenix will beat the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals.

Not might win, not try hard to win, not hope to win.

``I just said we're going home and win Game 6 and come back in Game 7,'' Nash said after practice on Friday. ``Take it how you want to take it.''

The Suns didn't seem devastated by Thursday night's last-second 103-101 loss in Los Angeles. Quite the opposite. The close call seemed to bolster their belief they can win this series, even though the Lakers are up 3-2 and can advance to the NBA finals for the third straight year with a victory in Phoenix on Saturday night.

``There's some really good things that we did last night, some things to build on,'' the Suns' Grant Hill said. ``I think the main thing is the confidence that we can beat this team. Obviously we've done it twice, and we've got to try to do it twice more.''

Nash's assurance may not have packed the flamboyance of Namath's famous guarantee that his huge underdog New York Jets would beat Baltimore in the Super Bowl, but it was enough to rile Game 5 hero Ron Artest.

``That's like no respect for us. There's no respect. That's how it's been for a long time this season. I'm sure we'll talk about it,'' Artest said before the Lakers left Los Angeles on Friday. ``Coaches have no respect for the Lakers at all. They have no respect for me. The players don't respect - a lot of the guys don't respect. ... I'm sure Kobe heard that (what Nash said), and I'm sure he'll do his part tomorrow.''

Artest's comments came after he was fined for showing up late for practice on Friday.

Phoenix rallied from 18 down in the second half to tie at 101-101 when Jason Richardson banked in a 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds to play. The Lakers pulled it out when Kobe Bryant threw up an air ball and Artest hustled to retrieve it, then banked in a shot at the buzzer.

``It was a great moment for him, for our team,'' the Lakers' Derek Fisher said. ``Ron has really sacrificed a lot for our team. He's a big part of our team. A lot of things he does go unnoticed on the stat sheet, but he's committed to doing one thing, and that's helping us win.''

The home team has won every game so far in this series, which looked to be a Lakers romp after Los Angeles scored 128 and 124 points and shot 58 percent in the first two games. Suns Coach Alvin Gentry turned to a zone defense and, buoyed by a raucous home crowd, Phoenix won the next two. Game 5 was the first truly close finish of the series.

The Suns have won six straight playoff games at home since losing to Portland in their first-round opener. The Lakers can earn their 31st trip to the NBA finals by ending that streak.

``We don't plan on going to Phoenix and losing three times on their home court,'' Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson said. ``We're not making this trip over there just to fill a date. We're going over there to win a game. We're highly motivated for this game, but we understand that if it has to go seven, we're damn well ready to come back home and defend our home court again. This is a series that has taken a lot of different faces to it in the course of these five games, and we don't expect Game 6 to be any different.''

Hill said the only constant for either team in the series has been the magnificence of Bryant, who is averaging 33 points, 9.6 assists and 7.4 rebounds in the five games. Bryant had 30 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists on Thursday night.

``He's made unbelievable shots,'' Hill said, ``against our man-to-man, against our zone. I mean, the guy's due for an off game. I mean he's just hit some shots like you wouldn't believe. We watched the film (of Game 5) and there was one shot he took where it wasn't contested. Other than that every shot for the most part was a hand in his face. He's been awesome.''

The difference has been how much help he gets from his teammates. On Thursday it was Pau Gasol (22 points) and Fisher (21).

This could be the last, and most important, game Amare Stoudemire plays for the Suns. The All-Star power forward can opt out of the final year of his contract after this season and said chances are ``50-50'' that he will be back.

``We've played all season for this game,'' he said. ``We've got to take advantage of it. It's all about determination now.''

Richardson blamed the loss on himself because he failed to box out Artest on Bryant's errant last shot.

``I boxed out every time but one,'' he lamented.

But Nash said no one on this team is pointing fingers.

``We all make mistake and it's misleading to pin the game on the last play when there were hundreds of plays at both ends of the court that determine the game,'' Nash said. ``We lost the game. J-Rich did a lot of great things for our team and we believe in him. We need him, so I don't place any blame on him.''

Nash had a series high 29 points and 11 assists on Thursday night, his 117th playoff game, more than any other player in NBA history who has not made it to the finals. He didn't expect to get this far with this undersized group of overachievers and the 36-year-old point guard may never get this close again.

``I thought we could make the playoffs. I thought we could get out of the first round and who knows what happens from there,'' he said. ``But to be right here with a real opportunity where we believe, that's pretty outstanding and special.''

---=

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

Artest, Kobe carry Lakers past Suns, into NBA Finals

By Mike Tulumello, for NBA.com
Posted Sunday May 30, 2010 1:15AM

PHOENIX (NBA.com exclusive) -- It took hundreds of regular-season games and 14 playoff series.

The end result? The two teams heading to The NBA Finals are the same ones many had forecast way back in October's training camps.

The Lakers will join the Celtics in a Finals matchup of the league's marquee franchises after the Lakers raced past the Suns Saturday night in Phoenix 111-103. L.A. won the Western Conference finals 4-2.

"The challenge is to win a championship," said Kobe Bryant, who scored a game-high 37. "The Celtics are in the way."

The Suns, after two rousing wins in Arizona and a heart-breaking loss in Los Angeles, couldn't quite hang with the Lakers in Game 6.

The weirdest twist of the game was that the Suns invited the mercurial Ron Artest to shoot.

He obliged. Only he surprised everyone by knocking down his perimeter shots. Artest shot 10-for-16 (4-for-7 on 3-pointers) for 25 points.

"The Lord was with him tonight," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "The basketball gods were on his side."

Bryant shot 12-for-25, hitting clutch jumpers down the stretch, and knocked down 8-for-10 from the line. "We played great defense on him," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "He made tough shot after tough shot.

"I've always thought he was the best player in basketball. I don't think it's even close."

Artest was the wild card, though. His fourth 3-pointer made it 81-67. Moments later, the Lakers led 85-67; the outcome seemed inevitable.

But the Lakers' Sasha Vujacic committed a flagrant foul on fellow Slovenian Goran Dragic. That re-energized a crowd that started out raucous then grew sleepy when the Lakers started to pull away.

On the sideline, Bryant gave Vujacic a heated tongue-lashing. On the floor, Dragic then hit two free throws and two driving layups. That propelled a furious Suns' comeback.

"I thought they were dead in the water at that particular time," Jackson acknowledged.

But, "They were ignited by an incidental play. They jumped into the fray."

With the crowd standing and roaring, the Suns pulled to within 99-96 on a Steve Nash drive with 2:19 left.

Then Bryant knocked down a 21-footer, and -- a short time later, with the Lakers leading 105-100 in the final 40 seconds -- Bryant launched an off-balance 22-footer with the Suns Jared Dudley blanketing him.

He nailed it to seal the Lakers' trip to The Finals. Gentry groaned. Bryant patted him on the rear end.

Artest's stunning sharp-shooting was the biggest reason the Lakers were able to shoot over the Suns' defense, which alternated between zone and man-to-man.

The Lakers hit 10-for-24 on 3-pointers (42 percent) while the Suns shot a modest 9-for-26 (35 percent). The taller Lakers also outrebounded the Suns 41-31.

For the Suns, speculation will begin instantly on the future of Amar'e Stoudemire. He can become a free agent if he, as expected, declines the $17-plus million option year on his contract.

Gentry praised Stoudemire, saying, "Amar'e has worked hard to become better defensively and a better teammate."

Stoudemire had a subpar Game 6. He hit just 7-for-20 shots and -- in part because he often was posted on the perimeter in the Suns' zone -- he hauled down just four rebounds.

On the plus side, he hit 13-for-15 free throws and finished with 27 points. "We didn't give Amare room to drive," Jackson said. "We kept him off his shot."

Nash shot 8-for-11 for 21 points. He had nine assists and just two turnovers. Channing Frye had 12 points and 13 boards off the bench.

Looking back, "This has been the most enjoyable year of my coaching career," Gentry said. "We had high character guys. ... And we played extremely hard.

"I've not been around a team like this, with this chemistry, in my 22 years in the league. There are no negatives. We gave it our all."

Nash agreed.

Going into the series, Nash said he considered the Lakers were the better team. "But I thought we had a chance to do something special.

"The last four or five days, I've been questioning who the better team is."

"This is as special a group as I've been involved with ... I'm really, really proud ... I'd love to keep [the team] together."

Before the game, Jackson tried to shift the psychological burden to the Suns: "It's not always easy to play in front of your home crowd" in a must-win situation, Jackson said. "It's not as easy as people think."

"That's Phil," Gentry replied when hearing the Zen-Master's comments.

Jackson's forecast turned out to be accurate.

Just like all those prognostications back in October.

• Lakers: Morrison
• Suns: Griffin, Jones

• Lakers: --
• Suns: --

• Lead Changes: 10
• Times Tied: 9

• Arena: US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
• Officials: #48 Scott Foster, #55 Bill Kennedy, #57 Greg Willard
• Attendance: 18422
• Duration: 2:49

Los Angeles Lakers (58-25)		Phoenix Suns (54-29)
Start of 1st Quarter
(12:00) Jump Ball Lopez vs Bynum (Fisher gains possession)
Bynum Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)	11:48 [LAL 2-0]
	11:22 [PHX 2-2]	Nash Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Gasol Jump Shot: Missed	10:58
	10:57	Stoudemire Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	10:45	Stoudemire Jump Bank Shot: Missed
Bynum Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	10:44
Bryant Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)	10:34 [LAL 4-2]
Bynum Foul : Defense 3 Second (0 PF)	10:19
	10:19 [PHX 3-4]	Nash Free Throw Technical (3 PTS)
	10:15	Lopez Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Artest (1 ST)
Artest Dunk Shot: Made (2 PTS)	10:11 [LAL 6-3]
	10:05 [PHX 6-6]	Hill 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Nash (1 AST)
Bynum Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	10:05
	10:05 [PHX 7-6]	Hill Free Throw 1 of 1 (6 PTS)
Bynum Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS)	09:48 [LAL 8-7]
	09:48	Lopez Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Bynum Free Throw 1 of 1 Missed	09:48
Bynum Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	09:47
	09:40	Lopez Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Gasol Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	09:40
Team Rebound	09:40
	09:40	Lopez Substitution replaced by Frye
Gasol Free Throw 2 of 2 (1 PTS)	09:40 [LAL 9-7]
	09:33 [PHX 10-9]	Frye 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Nash (2 AST)
Artest 3pt Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Bryant (1 AST)	09:17 [LAL 12-10]
	08:54 [PHX 12-12]	Hill Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS)
Artest Hook Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Gasol (1 AST)	08:35 [LAL 14-12]
Fisher Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	08:24
	08:24 [PHX 13-14]	Richardson Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)
	08:24 [PHX 14-14]	Richardson Free Throw 2 of 2 (2 PTS)
Bryant Running Bank shot: Made (4 PTS)	08:15 [LAL 16-14]
	08:15	Hill Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Bryant Free Throw 1 of 1 (5 PTS)	08:15 [LAL 17-14]
Bryant Substitution replaced by Brown	08:15
	08:05 [PHX 17-17]	Richardson 3pt Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Nash (3 AST)
Artest 3pt Shot: Missed	07:37
	07:36	Frye Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	07:25	Hill Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed
Brown Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	07:24
Fisher Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Brown (1 AST)	07:12 [LAL 19-17]
	06:54 [PHX 19-19]	Richardson Running Bank shot: Made (7 PTS)
Team Timeout : Regular	06:45
Bynum Substitution replaced by Bryant	06:45
Brown Substitution replaced by Odom	06:45
Bryant 3pt Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Fisher (1 AST)	06:31 [LAL 22-19]
	06:12	Richardson 3pt Shot: Missed
	06:11	Hill Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	06:05 [PHX 22-22]	Nash 3pt Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Hill (1 AST)
Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed	05:48
	05:48	Team Rebound
Odom Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	05:33
	05:33	Richardson Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	05:33	Team Rebound
	05:33 [PHX 23-22]	Richardson Free Throw 2 of 2 (8 PTS)
	05:21	Hill Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Fisher Free Throw 1 of 3 (3 PTS)	05:21 [LAL 23-23]
	05:21	Hill Substitution replaced by Dudley
Fisher Free Throw 2 of 3 (4 PTS)	05:21 [LAL 24-23]
Fisher Free Throw 3 of 3 (5 PTS)	05:21 [LAL 25-23]
	05:07	Stoudemire Jump Shot: Missed
Odom Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	05:05
Artest Turnaround Fade Away shot: Made (9 PTS)	04:57 [LAL 27-23]
	04:47 [PHX 25-27]	Nash Driving Layup Shot: Made (8 PTS)
Artest Jump Shot: Missed	04:30
	04:29	Dudley Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	04:18	Dudley 3pt Shot: Missed
	04:17	Richardson Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
Fisher Foul : Personal (2 PF)	04:16
Fisher Substitution replaced by Farmar	04:16
	04:03 [PHX 27-27]	Frye Jump Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Nash (4 AST)
Team Timeout : Short	03:54
Bryant Jump Shot: Missed Block: Stoudemire (1 BLK)	03:44
Bryant Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	03:44
Bryant Turnover : Traveling (1 TO)	03:44
Farmar Foul : Loose Ball (1 PF)	03:22
	03:22 [PHX 28-27]	Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)
	03:22 [PHX 29-27]	Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 (2 PTS)
Odom Jump Shot: Missed Block: Stoudemire (2 BLK)	03:06
	03:05	Nash Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	03:00	Dudley Layup Shot: Missed
Odom Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	02:59
Artest 3pt Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Farmar (1 AST)	02:48 [LAL 30-29]
	02:23	Nash 3pt Shot: Missed
Bryant Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	02:21
	02:19	Nash Foul : Personal (1 PF)
	02:19	Team Timeout : Regular
	02:19	Richardson Substitution replaced by Barbosa
Gasol Free Throw 1 of 2 (2 PTS)	02:19 [LAL 31-29]
Artest Substitution replaced by Brown	02:19
Gasol Free Throw 2 of 2 (3 PTS)	02:19 [LAL 32-29]
Gasol Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	02:07
	02:07 [PHX 30-32]	Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 (3 PTS)
	02:07 [PHX 31-32]	Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 (4 PTS)
Bryant Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Stoudemire (1 ST)	01:51
	01:26	Team Turnover : Shot Clock Turnover
Farmar 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Gasol (2 AST)	01:13 [LAL 35-31]
	01:00 [PHX 33-35]	Stoudemire Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Nash (5 AST)
Gasol Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	01:00
	01:00	Nash Substitution replaced by Dragic
Gasol Substitution replaced by Bynum	01:00
	01:00	Bryant Violation:Lane
	01:00 [PHX 34-35]	Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 1 (7 PTS)
Bryant Jump Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Farmar (2 AST)	00:47.3 [LAL 37-34]
	00:36.9	Stoudemire Reverse Layup Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	00:35.8
Bynum Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed	00:17.9
	00:16.9	Dragic Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	00:10.9	Frye 3pt Shot: Missed
	00:09.7	Dragic Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	00:05.9	Dragic Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Bryant (1 ST)
Bryant Jump Shot: Missed	00:00.1
Team Rebound	00:00.0
End of 1st Quarter
Los Angeles Lakers (58-25)		Phoenix Suns (54-29)
Start of 2nd QuarterBack to Top
	11:33	Barbosa Layup Shot: Missed
Bynum Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	11:32
Vujacic 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Farmar (3 AST)	11:16 [LAL 40-34]
	11:07 [PHX 37-40]	Dudley 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Barbosa (1 AST)
Odom Jump Shot: Missed Block: Dudley (1 BLK)	10:47
Bynum Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)	10:46
Bynum Layup Shot: Missed	10:44
	10:43	Frye Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
Odom Foul : Personal (2 PF)	10:42
	10:27 [PHX 39-40]	Amundson Jump Bank Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Dragic (1 AST)
Odom Dunk Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Farmar (4 AST)	10:01 [LAL 42-39]
	09:50	Dragic 3pt Shot: Missed
Farmar Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	09:49
Vujacic 3pt Shot: Missed	09:40
	09:39	Frye Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	09:34 [PHX 41-42]	Dragic Driving Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Artest Jump Shot: Missed Block: Dudley (2 BLK)	09:17
	09:17	Team Rebound
	09:05	Barbosa Jump Bank Shot: Missed
Odom Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	09:04
Bynum Turnover : 3 Second Violation (1 TO)	08:46
	08:46	Timeout : Official
Artest Substitution replaced by Bryant	08:46
Bynum Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	08:35
	08:35	Amundson Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	08:35	Team Rebound
	08:35	Amundson Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Odom Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)	08:34
Vujacic Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)	08:18
	08:04 [PHX 43-42]	Dragic Fade Away Jumper Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Vujacic Jump Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Farmar (5 AST)	07:47 [LAL 44-43]
	07:34	Barbosa Driving Layup Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	07:33
	07:17	Frye Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Bynum Free Throw 1 of 2 (5 PTS)	07:17 [LAL 45-43]
	07:17	Frye Substitution replaced by Lopez
	07:17	Amundson Substitution replaced by Stoudemire
Bynum Free Throw 2 of 2 (6 PTS)	07:17 [LAL 46-43]
Vujacic Foul : Personal (1 PF)	07:06
	06:57	Stoudemire Jump Shot: Missed
Bynum Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)	06:56
Bynum Alley Oop Dunk Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Odom (1 AST)	06:45 [LAL 48-43]
	06:34	Dragic 3pt Shot: Missed
Farmar Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	06:33
Farmar 3pt Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Odom (2 AST)	06:20 [LAL 51-43]
	06:13	Team Timeout : Regular
	06:13	Dudley Substitution replaced by Richardson
	06:13	Barbosa Substitution replaced by Hill
	06:13	Dragic Substitution replaced by Nash
Odom Substitution replaced by Artest	06:13
Farmar Substitution replaced by Gasol	06:13
Vujacic Substitution replaced by Fisher	06:13
	06:00	Stoudemire Jump Shot: Missed Block: Bynum (1 BLK)
Fisher Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	05:59
Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed	05:53
	05:53	Hill Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	05:37 [PHX 45-51]	Stoudemire Jump Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Hill (2 AST)
Artest 3pt Shot: Made (15 PTS) Assist: Fisher (2 AST)	05:11 [LAL 54-45]
Artest Foul : Personal (1 PF)	04:55
Bynum Foul : Personal (3 PF)	04:49
	04:49 [PHX 46-54]	Nash Free Throw 1 of 2 (9 PTS)
Bynum Substitution replaced by Odom	04:49
	04:49	Lopez Substitution replaced by Frye
	04:49 [PHX 47-54]	Nash Free Throw 2 of 2 (10 PTS)
Bryant Jump Bank Shot: Missed	04:34
Bryant Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)	04:33
Bryant Jump Shot: Missed	04:19
Artest Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	04:18
Artest Layup Shot: Missed	04:17
	04:16	Frye Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
	04:12	Frye Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Artest (2 ST)
Artest Layup Shot: Made (17 PTS)	04:08 [LAL 56-47]
	03:50	Hill 3pt Shot: Missed
Artest Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	03:49
Gasol Dunk Shot: Missed Block: Hill (1 BLK)	03:29
	03:27	Frye Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)
	03:24	Richardson Foul : Offensive (1 PF)
	03:24	Richardson Turnover : Foul (1 TO)
Odom Jump Shot: Missed	03:02
Gasol Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	03:01
Gasol Layup Shot: Missed	03:00
Odom Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	02:58
Odom Tip Shot: Made (4 PTS)	02:58 [LAL 58-47]
	02:51 [PHX 50-58]	Frye 3pt Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Hill (3 AST)
Fisher 3pt Shot: Missed	02:32
	02:31	Stoudemire Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	02:23	Richardson 3pt Shot: Missed
Gasol Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	02:22
Team Timeout : Regular	02:16
Gasol Hook Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Fisher (3 AST)	02:05 [LAL 60-50]
	01:38 [PHX 53-60]	Richardson 3pt Shot: Made (11 PTS) Assist: Nash (6 AST)
Odom Running Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Artest (1 AST)	01:18 [LAL 62-53]
	01:18	Hill Foul : Shooting (3 PF)
	01:18	Hill Substitution replaced by Dudley
Odom Free Throw 1 of 1 Missed	01:18
	01:17	Nash Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	00:54.1	Nash Turnover : Out of Bounds Lost Ball Turnover (1 TO)
Fisher 3pt Shot: Missed	00:38.9
	00:38.3	Frye Rebound (Off:0 Def:6)
	00:32.9	Nash 3pt Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	00:32.7
Fisher Substitution replaced by Vujacic	00:32.7
Bryant 3pt Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Artest (2 AST)	00:12.9 [LAL 65-53]
	00:00.2	Richardson 3pt Shot: Missed
	00:00.0	Team Rebound
End of 2nd Quarter
Los Angeles Lakers (58-25)		Phoenix Suns (54-29)
Start of 3rd QuarterBack to Top
	11:46	Stoudemire Layup Shot: Missed
Bryant Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)	11:45
Gasol Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Stoudemire (2 ST)	11:34
	11:28	Richardson 3pt Shot: Missed
Gasol Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	11:27
Gasol Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed	11:04
	11:02	Nash Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	10:41	Hill Jump Shot: Missed
Bryant Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)	10:40
Fisher Jump Shot: Made (7 PTS)	10:20 [LAL 67-53]
	09:53	Stoudemire Jump Shot: Missed
	09:52	Lopez Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
Fisher Foul : Personal (3 PF)	09:52
	09:46	Lopez Jump Shot: Missed
Fisher Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	09:45
Fisher Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Stoudemire (3 ST)	09:35
	09:16 [PHX 55-67]	Nash Fade Away Jumper Shot: Made (12 PTS)
	08:52	Lopez Foul : Shooting (3 PF)
	08:52	Lopez Substitution replaced by Frye
Bynum Free Throw 1 of 2 (9 PTS)	08:52 [LAL 68-55]
Bynum Free Throw 2 of 2 (10 PTS)	08:52 [LAL 69-55]
	08:43 [PHX 57-69]	Nash Jump Shot: Made (14 PTS)
Bryant 3pt Shot: Made (16 PTS)	08:19 [LAL 72-57]
	08:19	Instant Replay - Support Ruling
	08:08 [PHX 59-71]	Frye Jump Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Nash (7 AST)
Artest 3pt Shot: Missed	07:45
	07:44	Team Rebound
	07:34 [PHX 61-72]	Nash Jump Shot: Made (16 PTS)
	07:11	Richardson Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (17 PTS)	07:11 [LAL 73-61]
Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (18 PTS)	07:11 [LAL 74-61]
	07:00	Hill Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed
	07:00	Team Rebound
	06:52	Hill Jump Shot: Missed
Bynum Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)	06:51
Fisher 3pt Shot: Missed	06:41
	06:40	Team Rebound
	06:32 [PHX 63-74]	Stoudemire Dunk Shot: Made (11 PTS) Assist: Nash (8 AST)
Team Timeout : Regular	06:27
Bryant Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed	06:10
	06:09	Nash Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
	05:51	Stoudemire Jump Shot: Missed
	05:50	Stoudemire Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	05:49	Stoudemire Layup Shot: Missed Block: Bynum (2 BLK)
	05:48	Frye Rebound (Off:1 Def:6)
Bynum Foul : Shooting (4 PF)	05:38
Bynum Substitution replaced by Odom	05:38
	05:38 [PHX 64-74]	Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 (12 PTS)
	05:38 [PHX 65-74]	Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 (13 PTS)
Fisher 3pt Shot: Missed	05:23
Artest Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)	05:22
Artest Layup Shot: Made (19 PTS)	05:20 [LAL 76-65]
Bryant Foul : Personal (1 PF)	05:04
	04:50	Stoudemire Jump Shot: Missed
Odom Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)	04:49
	04:35	Stoudemire Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (19 PTS)	04:35 [LAL 77-65]
	04:35	Hill Substitution replaced by Dudley
Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (20 PTS)	04:35 [LAL 78-65]
	04:23	Stoudemire Turnover : Traveling (1 TO)
Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed	04:04
	04:03	Nash Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)
Fisher Foul : Shooting (4 PF)	03:55
	03:55 [PHX 66-78]	Richardson Free Throw 1 of 2 (12 PTS)
Fisher Substitution replaced by Farmar	03:55
	03:55 [PHX 67-78]	Richardson Free Throw 2 of 2 (13 PTS)
	03:41	Stoudemire Foul : Personal (2 PF)
Artest 3pt Shot: Made (22 PTS)	03:36 [LAL 81-67]
Farmar Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	03:19
	03:19	Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	03:19	Team Rebound
	03:19	Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Gasol Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	03:18
	03:04	Nash Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Gasol Free Throw 1 of 2 (6 PTS)	03:04 [LAL 82-67]
Gasol Free Throw 2 of 2 (7 PTS)	03:04 [LAL 83-67]
	02:45	Stoudemire Jump Shot: Missed
Artest Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)	02:43
Farmar 3pt Shot: Missed	02:28
Odom Rebound (Off:2 Def:5)	02:27
Artest Hook Shot: Made (24 PTS) Assist: Odom (3 AST)	02:24 [LAL 85-67]
	02:19	Team Timeout : Regular
	02:19	Richardson Substitution replaced by Barbosa
	02:19	Nash Substitution replaced by Dragic
Artest Substitution replaced by Vujacic	02:19
	02:11 [PHX 69-85]	Stoudemire Dunk Shot: Made (15 PTS) Assist: Barbosa (2 AST)
Bryant Jump Shot: Made (22 PTS)	01:45 [LAL 87-69]
	01:30 [PHX 72-87]	Barbosa 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Frye (1 AST)
Bryant Jump Shot: Made (24 PTS)	01:09 [LAL 89-72]
	00:59.1 [PHX 74-89]	Barbosa Jump Shot: Made (5 PTS)
Bryant Jump Shot: Made (26 PTS)	00:41.9 [LAL 91-74]
	00:25.9	Barbosa Running Bank shot: Missed
Vujacic Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	00:25.3
Team Turnover : Shot Clock Turnover	00:01.3
	00:00.6	Dragic Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Bryant (2 ST)
Bryant Jump Shot: Missed	00:00.2
Team Rebound	00:00.0
End of 3rd Quarter
Los Angeles Lakers (58-25)		Phoenix Suns (54-29)
Start of 4th QuarterBack to Top
Odom Layup Shot: Missed	11:34
	11:34	Team Rebound
Gasol Foul : Personal (3 PF)	11:28
	11:28	Vujacic Violation:Kicked Ball
	11:21 [PHX 76-91]	Dragic Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS)
Instant Replay - Altercation Ruling	11:18
Vujacic Foul : Flagrant Type 1 (2 PF)	11:18
Vujacic Turnover : Offensive Foul Turnover (2 TO)	11:18
	11:18 [PHX 77-91]	Dragic Free Throw Flagrant 2 of 2 (12 PTS)
	11:18 [PHX 78-91]	Dragic Free Throw Flagrant 1 of 1 (12 PTS)
	11:12 [PHX 80-91]	Dragic Driving Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS)
Gasol Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Dudley (1 ST)	10:51
	10:47	Dudley Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Artest (3 ST)
Odom Layup Shot: Missed	10:45
	10:44	Team Rebound
	10:27 [PHX 82-91]	Dragic Driving Layup Shot: Made (12 PTS)
Farmar Jump Shot: Made (8 PTS)	09:58 [LAL 93-82]
	09:48	Frye 3pt Shot: Missed
	09:47	Frye Rebound (Off:2 Def:6)
	09:42	Barbosa 3pt Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	09:42
Vujacic Substitution replaced by Bryant	09:42
Bryant Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed	09:27
	09:25	Frye Rebound (Off:2 Def:7)
Farmar Substitution replaced by Fisher	09:14
	09:10 [PHX 84-93]	Frye Jump Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Dudley (1 AST)
Artest 3pt Shot: Missed	08:44
Gasol Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)	08:43
Gasol Jump Shot: Missed	08:27
Team Rebound	08:26
Timeout : Official	08:26
Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed	08:11
	08:10	Dudley Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
Odom Foul : Personal (3 PF)	08:10
	07:56 [PHX 86-93]	Stoudemire Dunk Shot: Made (17 PTS) Assist: Dudley (2 AST)
Fisher Jump Shot: Made (9 PTS)	07:30 [LAL 95-86]
	07:16	Stoudemire Foul : Offensive (3 PF)
	07:16	Stoudemire Turnover : Foul (2 TO)
Gasol Jump Shot: Missed	07:03
	07:02	Frye Rebound (Off:2 Def:8)
	06:52	Dragic Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed
	06:51	Stoudemire Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)
Odom Foul : Shooting (4 PF)	06:37
	06:37 [PHX 87-95]	Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 (18 PTS)
	06:37 [PHX 88-95]	Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 (19 PTS)
Bryant Jump Shot: Missed	06:21
	06:20	Frye Rebound (Off:2 Def:9)
	06:09 [PHX 90-95]	Stoudemire Layup Shot: Made (21 PTS) Assist: Dragic (2 AST)
Odom Jump Shot: Missed Block: Frye (1 BLK)	05:48
	05:46	Frye Rebound (Off:2 Def:10)
	05:35	Team Timeout : Regular
	05:24	Barbosa 3pt Shot: Missed
Gasol Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)	05:24
Odom Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)	05:09
	04:59	Dragic 3pt Shot: Missed
Odom Rebound (Off:2 Def:6)	04:58
Bryant Floating Jump shot: Made (28 PTS)	04:33 [LAL 97-90]
	04:21 [PHX 92-97]	Barbosa Driving Layup Shot: Made (7 PTS)
Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed	03:52
Odom Rebound (Off:3 Def:6)	03:51
Fisher Jump Shot: Made (11 PTS) Assist: Bryant (2 AST)	03:27 [LAL 99-92]
	03:26	Team Timeout : Short
	03:26	Dudley Substitution replaced by Hill
	03:26	Barbosa Substitution replaced by Richardson
	03:26	Dragic Substitution replaced by Nash
Gasol Foul : Personal (4 PF)	03:13
	03:13 [PHX 93-99]	Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 (23 PTS)
	03:13 [PHX 94-99]	Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 (23 PTS)
Gasol Jump Shot: Missed	02:54
Odom Rebound (Off:5 Def:6)	02:53
Odom Layup Shot: Missed	02:52
Odom Rebound (Off:5 Def:6)	02:52
Odom Layup Shot: Missed	02:51
	02:50	Hill Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	02:48	Stoudemire Foul : Offensive (4 PF)
	02:48	Stoudemire Turnover : Foul (3 TO)
Team Timeout : Regular	02:48
Fisher Jump Shot: Missed	02:26
	02:25	Frye Rebound (Off:2 Def:11)
	02:19 [PHX 96-99]	Nash Driving Reverse Layup Shot: Made (18 PTS)
Bryant Jump Shot: Made (34 PTS)	01:59 [LAL 101-96]
	01:46	Nash Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Odom (1 ST)
	01:43	Frye Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (34 PTS)	01:43 [LAL 102-96]
Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (34 PTS)	01:43 [LAL 103-96]
Gasol Foul : Shooting (5 PF)	01:30
	01:30 [PHX 97-103]	Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 (27 PTS)
	01:30 [PHX 98-103]	Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 (27 PTS)
Odom Layup Shot: Missed	01:16
Gasol Rebound (Off:3 Def:4)	01:16
Gasol Layup Shot: Made (9 PTS)	01:14 [LAL 105-98]
	00:53.1 [PHX 100-105]	Stoudemire Jump Shot: Made (27 PTS) Assist: Nash (9 AST)
Bryant Jump Shot: Made (34 PTS)	00:35.2 [LAL 107-100]
	00:34.2	Team Timeout : Regular
	00:30.5	Stoudemire Layup Shot: Missed
Odom Rebound (Off:5 Def:7)	00:28.5
Team Timeout : Short	00:23.7
Team Timeout : Short	00:23.7
	00:22.3	Hill Foul : Personal (4 PF)
Artest Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	00:22.3
Team Rebound	00:22.3
Artest Free Throw 2 of 2 (25 PTS)	00:22.3 [LAL 108-100]
	00:17.4 [PHX 103-108]	Nash 3pt Shot: Made (21 PTS)
	00:13.2	Hill Foul : Personal (5 PF)
Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	00:13.2
Team Rebound	00:13.2
Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (35 PTS)	00:13.2 [LAL 109-103]
	00:13.2	Team Timeout : Short
	00:09.1	Nash 3pt Shot: Missed Block: Gasol (1 BLK)
Bryant Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)	00:08.8
	00:08.2	Frye Foul : Personal (3 PF)
Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (36 PTS)	00:08.2 [LAL 110-103]
Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (37 PTS)	00:08.2 [LAL 111-103]
	00:01.3	Stoudemire 3pt Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	00:00.8
End of 4th Quarter

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