Bryant, Artest star in Lakers win

PHOENIX (AP):

The Lakers weren't great, just good enough. The Suns weren't awful. They just came up short, quite literally.

Kobe Bryant scored 24 points and four other Los Angeles players reached double figures as the Lakers held off Phoenix 99-95 on Wednesday night.

"Oh," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said sarcastically, "we're a powerhouse now."

Jared Dudley led the Suns with 21 points, including three of their 11 3-pointers, but the much bigger Lakers dominated the boards 47-31, including 14-5 on the offensive end.

Andrew Bynum scored 14 for Los Angeles, Shannon Brown had 13, Lamar Odom 12 and Ron Artest 11, including a wide-open three with 1:30 to play after Phoenix had cut the lead to one.

"He has made big shots before when the money is on the line, big money is on the line," Bryant said of Artest. "I have all the faith in the world in him."

Pau Gasol scored only six points but grabbed nine rebounds for Los Angeles.

Steve Nash had 11 points and 10 assists for Phoenix. Vince Carter scored 14 but his extra-long three-point attempt was blocked by Gasol in the final minute.

The Lakers won their second game in two nights to improve to 4-4 over their last eight. The Suns have lost 10 of 13.

Despite the loss, Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry thought his team played well.

"We have nothing tangible to show for it," he said, "but I think over the long haul, it's going to help us win. ... Last time I checked, they are the world champs. You can talk about them struggling if you want to, but until June rolls around they're still the world champs."

The Lakers shot 60 percent in the first quarter and used an 18-2 run to take a 29-17 lead on Brown's three-point play. Mickael Pietrus, Channing Frye and Dudley sank three-pointers to start a 22-10 surge that tied it at 39 with 7:08 left in the half.

Nash's three-pointer put the Suns up 47-46 with 2:22 to play in the half and Dudley's third and final three of the night made it 50-46. Bryant made one of two free throws, then hit a 12-foot turnaround jumper to cut Phoenix's lead to 50-49 at the break.

Results: Celtics 105 Spurs 103, Lakers 99 Suns 95, Magic 97 Bucks 87, Nets 96 Bulls 94, 76ers 109 Wizards 97, Raptors 120 Cavaliers 105, Hawks 110 Jazz 87, Trail Blazers 103 Rockets 100, Warriors 110 Hornets 103, Bobcats 108 Timberwolves 105, OT, Clippers 106 Nuggets 93.