SHOT DOWN BRYANT'S POOR NIGHT DOOMS LAKERS PHOENIX 106, LAKERS 93.Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer PHOENIX - The Lakers didn't have a chance to redeem themselves in final 30 seconds Friday night against the Phoenix Suns. They also couldn't deny that Thursday's implosion implosion /im·plo·sion/ (im-plo´zhun) see flooding. im·plo·sion n. 1. in Sacramento had some effect as they took the court 24 hours later. There was no time for the Lakers to collect themselves after coughing up a five-point lead at the end of regulation to the Kings, and the high-octane Suns weren't about to let them catch their breath at U.S. Airways Center. Playing the second of back-to-back games, the Lakers hung with the Suns for 1 1/2 quarters - even opening up a 10-point lead - before reserve guard Eddie House Edward L. House (born May 14, 1978 in Berkeley, California) is an American professional basketball player currently with the NBA's Boston Celtics. College career House attended Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. started lighting it up and Phoenix ran away with a 106-93 victory. ``Can we go home now?'' Lakers coach Phil Jackson
Philip Douglas "Phil" Jackson (born September 17, 1945 in Deer Lodge, Montana) is the current coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, an American professional basketball team. asked. One night after scoring 51 points against Sacramento, Kobe Bryant Kobe Bean Bryant (born July 23 1978) is an American All-Star shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. struggled to get anything going. Bryant missed his first five shots of the third quarter and was called for two offensive fouls as the Lakers fell behind by 20. Bryant did finish with 37 points - 20 in the fourth quarter - on 12-of-33 shooting. House had 19 points, outscoring the Lakers' bench all by himself, with Steve Nash Steven John Nash, OBC (born February 7, 1974),[1] is a Canadian professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nash was brought up in a family of sportsmen and he excelled in a variety of sports. totaling 17 points and 12 assists for the Suns. ``I didn't think he had good legs,'' Jackson said of Bryant. ``He told me in the fourth quarter he was going to get hot. He felt like he was getting in his rhythm. He hit a few in the fourth quarter but he really was bothered by (Raja) Bell. He did a great job on him.'' The Suns were able to throw both Bell and Shawn Marion Shawn Dwayne Marion (born May 7, 1978 in Waukegan, Illinois) is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays small forward for the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, although he spent much of the 2004-05, 2005-06 and the 2006-07 seasons at power forward. at Bryant. Through three quarters, Bryant had 17 points to Bell's 16, though Bryant was reluctant to give the Phoenix guard much credit afterward. ``You've got to be kidding me, man,'' Bryant said. ``I had good looks. I missed them. It's as simple as that.'' Said Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni Mike D'Antoni (born May 9, 1951 in Mullens, West Virginia) is an American basketball coach and former basketball player. He holds American and Italian dual citizenship. D'Antoni is currently head coach of the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. : ``Raja Bell Raja Bell (born September 19, 1976 in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands) is a basketball shooting guard who currently plays for the Phoenix Suns. Bell grew up in the greater Miami area attending Miami Killian Senior High School. did an unbelievable job on both ends of the floor. ... We really hounded Kobe as much as we could, and he still got 37 points and that is how good he is.'' The Lakers (21-19) now trail first-place Phoenix by 5 1/2 games in the Pacific Division. The Suns also beat the Lakers a sixth consecutive time, something that never had happened in a series dating to 1968. The schedule is far from friendly for the Lakers, who will play the Suns three of four times this season in the second game of a back-to-back. This two-game trip would have looked a lot different had the Lakers closed out the Kings. Down the stretch, the Lakers saw Lamar Odom Lamar Joseph Odom (born November 6 1979, in South Jamaica, Queens, New York) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward (also plays both forward spots and is a "point-forward") for the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Lakers. called for a charge with 22 seconds left when he could have run down the clock. The Lakers also gave up a 3-pointer to Sacramento center Brad Miller Brad Miller can refer to any of several people:
``All these mistakes become very large and meaningful when you lose,'' Jackson said, ``and if you win, they're swept under the rug. Sometimes it's good that you lose to reinforce what you have to learn about winning.'' Maybe in another couple of days, but not Friday. With Smush Parker William Henry "Smush" Parker (born June 1 1981, in New York, New York) is an American professional basketball player, currently with the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association.[1] Parker played shooting guard in college, but moved to point guard in the NBA. scoring seven straight points in the second quarter with Bryant on the bench, the Lakers were on their way to a 33-23 lead. But House delivered the instant offense for which he is known, running off picks for jumper after jumper. The Lakers went from up 10 to down 8 in a matter of seven minutes. House had 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting in the quarter. ``It's not easy when you've got screen and rolls and you've got to chase the guy and everything,'' guard Sasha Vujacic said. ``But (House) was on fire because he had nice open looks and part of that was against me.'' The Suns sprinted past the Lakers to start the third quarter. Not even 2 1/2 minutes in, Jackson was calling timeout, the Lakers were down 58-45 and the game was on life support. Nash rose up for a jumper on the fastbreak and threw a gorgeous pass to Marion for a dunk. Leandro Barbosa Leandro Mateus Barbosa (born November 28, 1982 in São Paulo) is a Brazilian professional basketball player, who plays at the guard position with the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association. He is also known as Leandrinho, or "Little Leandro". drained a 3-pointer and Nash knocked down a jumper of his own. ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. if it carried over, we're definitely feeling the effects of it,'' Parker said of the Sacramento loss. ``Last night's game was a definite win. We should have had it. It's disappointing that we're going to finish this road trip 0-2 when we should be 1-1.'' Ross Siler, (818) 713-3610 ross.siler(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1 -- color) Kobe Bryant has the ball knocked loose by Phoenix's Boris Diaw in the Lakers' loss Friday. Matt York/Associated Press (2) Phoenix's Steve Nash, right, dribbles past Lakers guard Smush Parker during the Suns' victory Friday. Barry Gossage/Getty Images Box: STORY LINES |
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