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Kobe Leads Lakers Past Suns
01.06.11
Posted by Brett in 2010-11 Season
The Lakers went into Phoenix for the second time this season, and came out with their second victory, a hard fought 99-95 win at US Airways Arena on Wednesday.
Kobe Bryant scored 11 of his game-high 24 points in the third quarter, as the Lakers turned a one-point halftime deficit into a seven-point lead after three quarters. He also grabbed seven rebounds, dished out five assists, hitting 9-17 from the field.
The Suns, who have been struggling defensively as of late, erased a 12-point first half deficit to take a 50-49 lead at the break. The Lakers grabbed the lead quickly in the third quarter, and never trailed in the second half, leading by as much as eight several times.
But the Suns would not fold, and got to within one point at 92-91, on a three-pointer by Vince Carter with just over two minutes left. Derek Fisher then hit a jumper, followed by a three-pointer by Ron Artest from the corner with just under 90 seconds left, as the Lakers hung on down the stretch for the win.
The win pushed the Lakers road record to 13-6, as they won their second straight game on the second night of a back-to-back.
Andrew Bynum had 14 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks, despite playing in foul trouble all night. Shannon Brown had 13 points off the bench, and Lamar Odom had 12 points and a team-high 10 assists, as he continues his stellar all-around play this season.
For the second straight night, the Lakers controlled their recent turnover struggles, committing just 12, which didn’t allow the high-scoring Suns to get into a running game for easy baskets. The world champs also outrebounded the Suns 47-31, including 14 at the offensive end. The extra possessions helped the Lakers offset the Suns’ advantage from the field, 48.6% to 47.1% and their 11 three-pointers.
The Suns were led by Jared Dudley’s 21 points off the bench, as he hit 8-11 from the floor, including 3-4 from beyond the arc. Dudley was one of six Suns’ players in double figures. Vince Carter had 13 points, Marcin Gortat had 12 points and nine rebounds, and Steve Nash had 11 points to go along with 10 assists.
The Lakers return home for a Friday night game against the New Orleans Hornets. The Lakers beat the Hornets 103-88 back on December 29th. Friday’s game will be the first of three straight at Staples Center, as the Knicks come to town on Sunday, and then the LeBron-less Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.
Link: Lakers @ Suns Box Score
Lakers Buried By Avalanche of Threes
11.15.10
Posted by Brett in 2010-11 Season
The Phoenix Suns hit 22 3-point baskets, one short of the NBA record, as they dropped the Lakers 121-116 at Stapes Center on Sunday. It was the Lakers’ second straight loss after opening the season 8-0.
The Suns led the game for most of the night, behind the hot shooting of Jason Richardson, who scored 35 points with eight rebounds, on 13-20 from the field, including 7-10 from beyond the arc.
Six different Suns hit 3-pointers as the team shot 22-40 from distance, a whopping 55%. Steve Nash had 21 points and 13 assists, and Channing Frye added 20 (4-9 on 3-pointers) off the bench. Hedo Turkoglu hit 5-7 from the 3-point line for 17 points.
Pau Gasol led the Lakers with 28 points and 17 rebounds and Kobe Bryant nearly had his second triple-double of the season, finishing with 25 points, 14 assists, and 9 rebounds. Lamar Odom had 22 points and 11 rebounds, but committed a costly technical foul late in the game with the Lakers trailing by two.
The Suns took a 56-53 lead into halftime, and stretched their advantage to 90-76 late in the third quarter with a barrage of long-distance bombs. Every time the Lakers got close in the fourth, Phoenix had an answer.
The biggest play of the night however was in the final minute. After Lamar Odom drove to the basket for a layup to cut the Suns’ lead to two, he began yelling at the officials for a foul call as well. With the new tighter rules for technical fouls in place, Odom was whistled for one which the Suns converted to put them back up three at 112-109. With the momentum gone, the Lakers were unable to rally as the Suns closed out the game for the win.
With two straight losses, the Lakers hit the road for three games this week, starting in Milwaukee on Tuesday night. The Bucks started off the year slow but have been playing much better as of late, and are back to .500 at 5-5. Last year’s game in Milwaukee was headlined by Kobe Bryant’s overtime buzzer beater to give the Lakers a 107-106 win.
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