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Pau Gasol put up a game high 29 points against Phoenix in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals at Los Angeles’ Staples Center Wednesday. Gasol grabbed nine rebounds and collected five assists in the Lakers’ 124-112 pasting of Phoenix. The Suns were drubbed for the second time, though they were in the game going into the fourth quarter. The Lakers broke away from a 90-90 third quarter tie to hold on for the 2-0 lead in the best of seven series. Game 3 shifts to Phoenix on Sunday, where the Suns seek to ruin the purple and gold’s eight game playoff winning streak.
Kobe Bryant scored 21 points and distributed a career playoff-high 13 assists for Los Angeles. The high scoring defending champions netted 34 fourth period points to pull away at the finish. It marked the fifth time this series L.A. has broken 30 during a quarter. Lamar Odom totaled 11 rebounds and 17 points to notch a double-double in the victory. Ron Artest also shot the ball extremely well for the Lakers. Artest finished 6-of-9 from the field and 3-of-6 from downtown to snag 18 points. Artest led all scorers at the half with 15 points as the Lakers carried a comfortable 65-56 lead into the locker room.
The Suns were outscored 34-22 during the fourth period. L.A.’s versatile and poised offense was too much for the small Suns’ lineup. They tore off to an 18-7 start in the fourth, sparking momentum as the Suns committed five turnovers. The one thing Phil Jackson’s team can do is execute. Gasol and Bryant were superb in handling the ball and plugging away at the hoop. They also make opponents look confused when they are clicking on all cylinders. Alvin Gentry’s Suns seemed to beat themselves but it wasn’t all lowlights for the visitors. Jason Richardson carved up L.A. for a team high 27 points and Grant Hill bucketed 23 in the loss. Phoenix erased a 14 point deficit to tie the game after the break. Hill knifed through the paint for 14 third quarter points to stall the Lakers, but L.A. regrouped for an explosive fourth. Amare Stoudemire figured into the mix with 18 points in 40 minutes for the Suns and Jared Dudley hit five 3-pointers off the bench. The hard-charging Lakers remain unbeaten at home during the post-season. Third seeded Phoenix endured their first back-to-back losses since January.

Parting Points: Song of the day- Fuel’s “Shimmer”