CASPER
New member
PHOENIX – Five months apart, the Los Angeles Lakers have consecutive victories in Phoenix.
The first sent the Lakers to the NBA finals and an eventual championship. This one gave Phil Jackson his 1,100th victory, something only four other coaches have accomplished.
"It's just a number," he said, "but it's kind of overwhelming how many it is."
The Lakers spoiled the Suns' home opener 114-106 on Friday night behind Lamar Odom's 18 points and 17 rebounds in a rematch of last season's Western Conference finalists.
Kobe Bryant scored 25 points and Pau Gasol had 21 in the Lakers' eighth victory over Phoenix in their last 10 meetings. No coach has reached 1,100 victories faster than Jackson, who did it in 1,560 games, winning 11 championships along the way, with some help from Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal and Bryant, among others.
"He's something else, what he's been able to accomplish," Bryant said. "I can't think of any coach who has accomplished what he's accomplished in any sport, outside of John Wooden."
Grant Hill scored 21 points, Robin Lopez had 18 points and 14 rebounds and Jason Richardson added 17 points for the Suns, playing on consecutive nights after beating the Jazz in Utah on Thursday. In three of the last five regular-season games against the Lakers, Phoenix was playing for the second night in a row.
Goran Dragic added 15 for Phoenix. Ron Artest scored 14 points for the Lakers, while Derek Fisher and Matt Barnes added 11 apiece.
The last time the Lakers played in Phoenix, on May 29, they finished off the Suns in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals. This season's Suns have added three new players and lost a significant one, Amare Stoudemire, who signed with the New York Knicks.
