Gasol extended lead to 19 and a short jumper Laker Item 16 But Steve Nash, MVP twice returned to favor.
Jason Richardson had a margin almost 15, then struck the three points to cut the lead to 12 Odom missed a shot after the Suns and the Lakers turned the ball over half finished two free throws to give Bryant 34 points game and 20 for the period.
This is a 14 point Lakers lead with 12 minutes to play.