Kobe Bryant leads the Los Angeles Lakers to a 114-102 win over Phoenix Suns – NBA Recap
Kobe Bryant hammered a game high 31 points with 6 assists, Metta World Peace dropped 22 points on a 7 of 14 shooting including 5 three point daggers and the Los Angeles Lakers made short work of the Phoenix Suns, 114-102, on the
night, when the franchise honoured the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with a bronze statue.
Dwight Howard continued to fill the box score with 18 points, 12 boards and 4 blocks, while Pau Gasol also made a 16 point-10 rebound double-double. Jordan Hill was another Laker in the double scoring figures with 10 points off
the bench.
The Suns also had five players in double figures, and nearly matched the Lakers in all the stats. However, they just allowed the Lakers one too many trip to the foul line and the hosts made them pay. The Lakers made 22 of their
28 free throws as compared to the Suns who were 7 of 15.
The Suns started the game with three consecutive shots to take a 6-3 lead, before Kobe nailed a three to start 9-0 run. This run was capped by a jumper from Gasol, and in the minutes that followed he made four consecutive jumpers
for the Lakers. The problem however was that the Suns were more than equalizing the equation from the other end.
Keyed by Goran Dragic and Michael Beasley, the Suns came back and tied the scores at 16, 18 and 20. By the end of the frame, the Lakers had again carved out a 6 point lead, but Dragic and Markieff Morris made it 30-32. A buzzer
beating three from World Peace however made it 35-30 after one.
The high paced action continued into the second quarter and four minutes into the period, the Lakers had stretched their advantage to 50-40. Back came the Suns though with a 15 to nothing run, to covert a 10 point deficit into
a five point lead at 55-50.
The Lakers responded immediately and emphatically.
Kobe Bryant made two deuces to start a 12-zip spurt which made it a seven point game in their favour, before Luis Scola layup ended the action packed first half at 57-62.
The Suns kept pushing for the lead right from the word go in the second half, but the Lakers countered every time till Dragic knocked down a three to finally tie the score at 82, 2:26 remaining in the frame. The game was tied again
at 84, but a 17-2 run bridging the third and the fourth quarter, and capped by a three point play from Howard, effectively put the game to bed.
The Suns were led by 22 points by Dragic; Scola has 18 with 8 rebounds, while Beasley ended the night with 14 points and 9 dimes.
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