A
AALARD
Guest
NBA: Los Angeles Lakers 124, Phoenix 112
LOS ANGELES, May 20 (UPI) -- Pau Gasol touched off a nine-point run in the fourth period Wednesday that sent the Los Angeles Lakers to a 124-112 victory over Phoenix.
The Lakers assumed a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals, which move to Arizona for Game 3 Sunday.
Phoenix outscored the Lakers by nine points in the third period to create a 90-90 deadlock heading into the final quarter. The Suns appeared ready to hang in until the closing moments and trailed by just two with 3 minutes having expired in the fourth period.
Gasol then made two free throws to ignite the 9-0 surge and Kobe Bryant finished it off by hitting a fade away jumper with 6:44 to go that gave the Lakers a 106-95 advantage.
Bryant scored 21 points and handed out a playoff career-high 13 assists. Gasol was on the receiving end of many of those assists and scored 29 points, making 11-of-19 shots from the field.
Ron Artest added 18 points and Lamar Odom had 17 points and 11 rebounds.
It was the 10th straight home playoff victory for the Lakers and their eighth consecutive post-season win overall.
Jason Richardson paced Phoenix with 27 points and Grant Hill had 23.
Los Angeles shot an outstanding 57 percent and made 9-of-16 from 3-point range. Jordan Farmar made all three of his attempts from beyond the arc.
LOS ANGELES, May 20 (UPI) -- Pau Gasol touched off a nine-point run in the fourth period Wednesday that sent the Los Angeles Lakers to a 124-112 victory over Phoenix.
The Lakers assumed a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals, which move to Arizona for Game 3 Sunday.
Phoenix outscored the Lakers by nine points in the third period to create a 90-90 deadlock heading into the final quarter. The Suns appeared ready to hang in until the closing moments and trailed by just two with 3 minutes having expired in the fourth period.
Gasol then made two free throws to ignite the 9-0 surge and Kobe Bryant finished it off by hitting a fade away jumper with 6:44 to go that gave the Lakers a 106-95 advantage.
Bryant scored 21 points and handed out a playoff career-high 13 assists. Gasol was on the receiving end of many of those assists and scored 29 points, making 11-of-19 shots from the field.
Ron Artest added 18 points and Lamar Odom had 17 points and 11 rebounds.
It was the 10th straight home playoff victory for the Lakers and their eighth consecutive post-season win overall.
Jason Richardson paced Phoenix with 27 points and Grant Hill had 23.
Los Angeles shot an outstanding 57 percent and made 9-of-16 from 3-point range. Jordan Farmar made all three of his attempts from beyond the arc.
