
Game 3, Fourth quarter, 2:42, Suns 106, Lakers 96
The Lakers found themselves down by six coming out of the last timeout with slightly less than seven minutes to play. But the Lakers didn't capitalize when Lamar Odom committed an offensive foul. It was their sixth turnover of the quarter.
Each team exchanged misses until Amare Stoudemire connected and the Suns were up by eight. Both teams started to miss as the clock ticked down. The Lakers finally were able to cut into the Phoenix lead when Grant Hill fouled Kobe Bryant, who made both foul shots.
After several misses, a foul by Robin Lopez on Bryant allowed the Lakers to cut the lead to four as he made his seventh and eighth consectuive free throws.
But Stoudemire answered with a quick basket. Things suddenly got worse for the Lakers when Odom committed his sixth foul and Lopez extended the Suns' lead to eight with a couple of free throws.
The Lakers started to look desperate as Ron Artest missed on a three and Steve Nash buried a three to suddenly extend the Suns' lead to 10 with less than three minutes to play.
Looks like the Lakers won't be getting a sweep.
Game 3, Fourth quarter, 6:57, Suns 98, Lakers 92
Lamar Odom came out of the timeout and made both free throws to give the Lakers their first lead of the second half. But it was short-lived as Jared Dudley made a two and after a Lakers turnover Robin Lopez put the Suns up by three.
Odom quickly answered to make it a one-point game but Amare Stoudemire extended the Suns' lead to three with two free throws.
Things then took a bad turn for the Lakers after another turnover when Jason Richardson buried a three from the corner and the Suns' lead was six. Lakers Coach Phil Jackson needed a timeout and took one.
Game 3, Fourth quarter, 8:47, Suns 89, Lakers 88
The Lakers tied the score with a nice play in the lane resulting in a basket by Lamar Odom. But Amare Stoudemire continued his hot hand with a two, giving him 31 points for the game.
Kobe Bryant then tied the score with a two after an offensive rebound by Pau Gasol. But the see-saw continued as Goran Dragic made one of two free throws and the teams were finally on odd-even.
After a couple of misses and a jump ball, a foul by Channing Frye on Lamar Odom gave the Lakers a chance to take the lead after they come out of a timeout.
Game 3, End of third quarter, Suns 86, Lakers 84
The Lakers came out of the timeout with a chance to tie the score, but Derek Fisher was off target on a three. Amare Stoudemire came back and hit for two to extend the Suns' lead to four points.
But it was Kobe Bryant who answered with a three, and it was clear this game would not likely be decided until the very end. Stoudemire came back and made two free throws and Gasol answered that with a bucket just as the shot clock was ready to expire.
Stoudemire, off a Fisher foul, went to the line with 39 seconds to play in the quarter and made one of two, giving the Lakers a chance to tie the score and erase a seven-point halftime deficit. Bryant was fouled and went to the line for the first time in the game and made both to tie the score.
Stoudemire then connected from underneath the basket with eight seconds left, but Bryant ended up back at the line and made both.
However, an unwise foul by Shannon Brown sent Suns guard Leandro Barbosa to the line and he sank both free throws and the Suns ended the period with a two-point lead.
Game 3, Third quarter, 3:16, Suns 77, Lakers 75
Ron Artest made two foul shots coming out of the timeout and the Lakers were trailing by three. He has nine points in the quarter.
Robin Lopez came back down the court and scored on the hook, but Derek Fisher buried a three from 26 feet to make it a two-point game.
A Lamar Odom foul sent Amare Stoudemire to the line, where he made both shots and the margin was back to four. After a steal, Pau Gasol cut the Lakers' deficit to two and the Lakers were knocking on the door.
Game 3, Third quarter, 5:20, Suns 73, Lakers 68
The Lakers certainly were outplayed in the first half as Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol were forced to carry the load. Coach Phil Jackson needed to open up the offense and he was sure to see how serious the Lakers were at the start of this period.
But it didn't start well as Bryant missed his first shot and Suns' Jason Richardson connected for two. But a Gasol basket and a Ron Artest three-pointer brought the Lakers a little closer. Amare Stoudmire came back down and connected on a three-point play.
After a Lamar Odom tip-in and three foul shots by Derek Fisher, the Lakers had closed their deficit to two. But it was short-lived as Robin Lopez made a two and Richardson added a basket.
The Lakers were clearly struggling to stop the Suns. With about eight minutes to play the Suns lead was eight. A couple of buckets later the Lakers closed it to three on a Derek Fisher three. That's when things heated up as Fisher and Lopez were assessed technicals. Artest followed with a bucket and it was answered by Stoudemire.
The Lakers were down by five as the period's first timeout was called, but Artest was headed to the free-throw line after a Lopez foul.
-- John Cherwa
Game 3, Halftime: Suns 54, Lakers 47
The Suns pulled away late in the second quarter as Steve Nash controlled their up-tempo offense during a 14-2 spurt to close the half.
Suns center Robin Lopez hit two free throws to make it 54-47, giving the Suns their biggest lead of the game.
The Suns outscored the Lakers, 25-15, in the second quarter.
Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol carried the Lakers' offense in the first half: Bryant has 19 poiints, Gasol has 12.
But the Suns countered with their big three: Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Jason Richardson combined for 34 of the Suns' 54 points. Stoudemire leads the Suns with 13 points; Nash also penetrated well and has seven assists, plus 11 points.
The Suns were far more aggressive taking the ball to the hoop, drawing fouls and hitting 18 of 20 free throws. Meanwhile, the Lakers only had three free-throw attempts and missed all of them.
Suns backup point guard Goran Dragic played more than six minutes to open the second quarter, giving Nash a long rest, and has five points and one assist.
Lamar Odom is cold tonight, missing six of seven shots from the field and both free throws.
Game 3, Second quarter 2:58 remaining, Lakers 45, Suns 45
Amare Stoudemire made a layup on a give and go from Steve Nash to tie the score at 45-45.
Kobe Bryant has hit nine of his 11 shots, scoring 19 points.
The Suns' bench has been cold, missing nine of their 11 shots.
Suns backup point guard Goran Dragic played more than half the second quarter, giving Steve Nash a long rest, and has five points and one assist. His two free throws cut the lead to 41-35 with about 5:51 remaining.
Game 3, Second quarter, 6:41 remaining, Lakers 41, Suns 35
Jordan Farmar hit a three-pointer from the right wing on an assist from Shannon Brown just before the timeout.
Andrew Bynum drew a foul on Channing Frye while hitting a jumper to open the second quarter. Bynum missed the free throw but Brown swept in and dunked on Bynum's miss to make it 36-29, giving the Lakers their biggest lead of the game.
The Suns continue to be hurt by Frye's cold shooting spell. He's missed his first seven shots of the game.
Game 3, End of First Quarter: Lakers 32, Suns 29
The Lakers pulled away from the Suns at the end of the quarter thanks to Kobe Bryant's ridiculously hot hand. He hit seven of his eight shots and has 15 points as well as four assists.
A Pau Gasol dunk on a feed from Bryant made it 32-29 with about 25 seconds left in the quarter.
The Suns were aggressive in taking the ball to the hoop throughout the quarter. Amare Stoudemire has nine points, Jason Richardson has eight and Steve Nash has six points and five assists.
One difference in the quarter was free-throw shooting. The Suns made nine of their 11 free throws. Meanwhile, the Lakers have yet to shoot from the line.
Game 3, First quarter, 2:15 remaining, Suns 27, Lakers 26
Both teams are shotting well, the Suns at 47%, the Lakers at 60%.
Jason Richardson hit consecutive three-pointers from the right and left wings to put the Suns up, 27-22.
Kobe Bryant is hot as well. He hit his first five shots shots and has 11 points.
Lamar Odom once again scored on a cut to the basket on his first possession to tie the score at 15-15.
Game 3, First quarter, 7:43 remaining: Suns 15, Lakers 13
In a good start for Phoenix, Amare Stoudemire has driven to the hoop six times already and has put Andrew Bynum on the bench with two fouls. Stoudemire has nine points to lead the Suns.
Because of the aggressive moves to the hoop the Lakers were over the foul limit only four minutes into the quarter.
Kobe Bryant hit his three jump shots and has six points. Pau Gasol is two for four from the field.
Derek Fisher hit a three-pointer on his first shot.
Lakers vs. Suns Game 3: Pregame
The Lakers have won eight playoff games in a row over three series. Now the Western Conference finals against the Suns shifts to Phoenix.
Oddsmaker Beted.com calls today's game completely even, that is, neither team is favored, which is very unusual, particularly for the home team.
So far the Lakers have had their way with Phoenix, averaging 126 points in their two wins. Phil Jackson said before the game that the Suns are an excellent home team, and have been for the last five seasons.
Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m., possibly a little later.