Lakers at Suns
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Lakers look to sweep a home-and-home and win their fourth in a row Sunday when they visit the Phoenix Suns. Kobe Bryant scored 36 points and the Lakers scored a season high in a 111-99 victory over the Suns on Friday. “Obviously, Kobe went off,” said Lakers center Andrew Bynum, who had 17 points and 14 rebounds. “He had his points, and the rest of us were just kind of filling in the gaps.” The Suns will have to try to better job on the boards. The Lakers outrebounded them 52-36 Friday and 49-35 earlier this season.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, KCAL (Lakers), FS Arizona (Suns)
ABOUT THE LAKERS (18-12): Bryant, averaging 42 points in two games against the Suns this season, said it doesn’t matter what Phoenix player guards him – as long as it is just one, the Suns will have their work cut out. Grant Hill had been doing a pretty good job, but picked up his fourth foul, and Bryant scored 18 points in the third quarter as Hill sat. “Doesn’t matter if Grant’s in the game or not,” Bryant said. “If they’re not going to double (team) and I have room to go to work, I’m going to go to work.”
ABOUT THE SUNS (12-19): Steve Nash, 38, leads the NBA in assists (10.9) and tied his season high with 17 Friday, but was lamenting his season-high seven turnovers. “They did a good job (Friday) but I also just didn't capitalize on opportunities. I had some careless turnovers. We just dug ourselves into a hole.” With his NBA clock ticking down Nash also said he won’t push for a trade to a contender. The Suns had a season-high 32 assists on 41 field goals, and made all 11 shots in the first quarter.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Bryant is averaging 31.3 points against the Suns in the last 24 meetings and Los Angeles is 18-6 in those games.
2. Bynum and Suns center Marcin Gortat are two of three players (along with Orlando’s Dwight Howard) averaging 15 points, 10 rebounds and 1.5 blocks.
3. Phoenix has lost four straight games in the series and last defeated the Lakers in Phoenix on Dec. 28, 2009.