The Suns have been on national television a lot this year and, for the most part, have been embarrassed by the overexposure. In their first 16 games on ABC, ESPN and TNT, the Suns were 4-12 and lost most of them decisively. So when ABC came calling again, and the foe was the Lakers -- who were 3-0 against the Suns and a perfect 10-0 on Sundays this season -- and Steve Nash's ankle kept him chained to the bench, Phoenix's chances appeared slim for a much-needed win.
Kobe Bryant had 49 points, Pau Gasol had 30, but the Suns won anyway, thanks to the positives that turned a hopeless situation into a 118-111 victory which kept them from possibly falling three games behind the playoff pack in the West. There was Shaquille O'Neal, turning back the clock yet again for 33 points. There was Matt Barnes, back in the starting lineup due to a rash of injuries, producing 26 points and 10 rebounds. There was Grant Hill scoring 15 of his 17 points in the first half despite playing the power forward position for the first time in his long NBA career. The Suns have lost a lot of games they figured to win this season, but this nullified at least one clunker and sent them on an important three-game road trip with a much-needed confidence.
Sure, it took a 56 percent shooting effort and a horrible game by Lamar Odom, but the Suns haven't beaten the Lakers in a year and weren't going to quibble about how a win came packaged. Their defense wasn't great, but it was better -- and perhaps not having Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash in the lineup had something to do with that. Their turnovers were under control, and they answered every Laker charge with a thrust of their own.
With little margin of error, the Suns need to come home from Orlando, Miami, Houston and San Antonio with at least two wins as they march through a gauntlet of winning teams that ends with home games against Dallas and Cleveland. Getting Nash back should help, but showing the grit on display Sunday will be even better.
SUNS 118, LAKERS 111: Kobe Bryant put up the 96th 40-point game of his career with 49 and combined with Pau Gasol for 79 points, but it wasn't enough as the Suns rose up and won a big game without Steve Nash. Shaquille O'Neal followed a season-high 45 points against Toronto Friday with 33 more and Matt Barnes stepped up with 26 points and 10 rebounds as the Suns moved to 6-2 under Alvin Gentry and crept closer in the Western Conference playoff race.
