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NBA: Los Angeles Lakers 128, Phoenix 107
LOS ANGELES, May 18 (UPI) -- Kobe Bryant poured in 40 points Monday to propel the Los Angeles Lakers to a 128-107 win over Phoenix in the first game of the NBA Western Conference finals.
Bryant, despite being nagged by several injuries and reportedly having fluid drained from his knee after the Lakers' previous series, showed few signs of fatigue, going 13-of-23 from the floor as the defending NBA champs routed the Suns to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Pau Gasol added 21 points and Lamar Odom contributed 19 points and 19 rebounds off the bench in the Lakers' seventh straight post-season win.
Los Angeles was dominant underneath the basket, outrebounding Phoenix 42-34 and outscoring them 56-36 in the paint.
The Suns fizzled from long range, connecting only 5-of-22 from 3-point territory.
Amare Stoudemire led Phoenix with 23 points and Jason Richardson added 15, while point guard ended Steve Nash ended with 13 points and 13 assists.
LOS ANGELES, May 18 (UPI) -- Kobe Bryant poured in 40 points Monday to propel the Los Angeles Lakers to a 128-107 win over Phoenix in the first game of the NBA Western Conference finals.
Bryant, despite being nagged by several injuries and reportedly having fluid drained from his knee after the Lakers' previous series, showed few signs of fatigue, going 13-of-23 from the floor as the defending NBA champs routed the Suns to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Pau Gasol added 21 points and Lamar Odom contributed 19 points and 19 rebounds off the bench in the Lakers' seventh straight post-season win.
Los Angeles was dominant underneath the basket, outrebounding Phoenix 42-34 and outscoring them 56-36 in the paint.
The Suns fizzled from long range, connecting only 5-of-22 from 3-point territory.
Amare Stoudemire led Phoenix with 23 points and Jason Richardson added 15, while point guard ended Steve Nash ended with 13 points and 13 assists.
