**Lakers at Suns**
-- Phoenix silenced the critics Thursday by topping Los Angeles 126-118 in overtime as a four-point road underdog. The combined 244 points easily eclipsed the closing total of 204.
-- The Suns jumped out of the gates early and built a 60-57 lead at the break. However, the Lakers owned a three-point lead (105-102) with just 10 seconds in the fourth before Tim Thomas’ 3-pointer sent the game to the extra session. Kobe Bryant missed a jumper that would’ve been a game-winner as time expired.
-- Mike D’Antonio’s team then finished the final five minutes with a 21-13 overtime run to square up the best-of-seven series at 3-3. The victory for the Suns was the second straight in this battle.
-- Los Angeles received its highest scoring performance of the series on Thursday from Bryant, who poured in 50 points on 20-of-35 shots. Kobe’s attempts almost doubled in Game 6 compared to the other five games, when he was averaging 18 shots per game.
-- The Suns shot lights out, ripping the bucket at a 57 percent clip, including 9-of-20 from beyond the arch. D’Antonio had six players accumulate 26 minutes or more and all six reached double-figures in scoring.
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-- Steve Nash led the way with 32 points and 13 assists, but it was efforts from Tim Thomas (21) and Leandro Barbosa (22) who made clutch shots throughout the game.
-- L.A. lit up the stat column as well, shooting 55 percent from the field. The two numbers that didn’t make head coach Phil Jackson happy were the 20 turnovers and 30 fouls.
-- Jackson’s playoff resume is arguably the best ever, winning 178 games, the most by any coach. Also, he’s never lost a first-round playoff series and has won championships nine times in 14 opportunities. Lastly, a Jackson-led coach has never lost a playoff series when owning a lead.
-- I guess the oddsmakers have thrown all those numbers out the window, with Phoenix being listed as a six-point favorite for the final game. The total has also been adjusted to 207 ½ after the last two games sky rocketed ‘over’ the closing numbers.
-- The Suns were without Raja Bell for Game 6 after being suspended by the league for a flagrant foul on Kobe in Game 5. Bell’s absence turned out to be big for Phoenix, considering he’s now had four days of rest for tonight’s tip.
-- Fatigue should definitely come into play tonight, especially for the starters. The Lakers’ Bryant and Lamar Odom both played over 50-plus minutes, while the Suns’ Shawn Marion posted 50 minutes.
-- If anybody says that officials don’t play a factor in sporting events, then take a sneak peek at these numbers.
-- In this series and I would guess most, if you get the calls, it certainly helps you in the long run. Whoever gets to the stripe more, apparently will win the game.
-- Tip off for this contest is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EST, with TNT providing national coverage.
-- Sticking with TNT, how badly do you want to rip up your ticket when Charles Barkley says, “Phoenix has no shot to win this game”?
-- The winner of this series will face the L.A. Clippers in the second round.
-- Phoenix silenced the critics Thursday by topping Los Angeles 126-118 in overtime as a four-point road underdog. The combined 244 points easily eclipsed the closing total of 204.
-- The Suns jumped out of the gates early and built a 60-57 lead at the break. However, the Lakers owned a three-point lead (105-102) with just 10 seconds in the fourth before Tim Thomas’ 3-pointer sent the game to the extra session. Kobe Bryant missed a jumper that would’ve been a game-winner as time expired.
-- Mike D’Antonio’s team then finished the final five minutes with a 21-13 overtime run to square up the best-of-seven series at 3-3. The victory for the Suns was the second straight in this battle.
-- Los Angeles received its highest scoring performance of the series on Thursday from Bryant, who poured in 50 points on 20-of-35 shots. Kobe’s attempts almost doubled in Game 6 compared to the other five games, when he was averaging 18 shots per game.
-- The Suns shot lights out, ripping the bucket at a 57 percent clip, including 9-of-20 from beyond the arch. D’Antonio had six players accumulate 26 minutes or more and all six reached double-figures in scoring.
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-- Steve Nash led the way with 32 points and 13 assists, but it was efforts from Tim Thomas (21) and Leandro Barbosa (22) who made clutch shots throughout the game.
-- L.A. lit up the stat column as well, shooting 55 percent from the field. The two numbers that didn’t make head coach Phil Jackson happy were the 20 turnovers and 30 fouls.
-- Jackson’s playoff resume is arguably the best ever, winning 178 games, the most by any coach. Also, he’s never lost a first-round playoff series and has won championships nine times in 14 opportunities. Lastly, a Jackson-led coach has never lost a playoff series when owning a lead.
-- I guess the oddsmakers have thrown all those numbers out the window, with Phoenix being listed as a six-point favorite for the final game. The total has also been adjusted to 207 ½ after the last two games sky rocketed ‘over’ the closing numbers.
-- The Suns were without Raja Bell for Game 6 after being suspended by the league for a flagrant foul on Kobe in Game 5. Bell’s absence turned out to be big for Phoenix, considering he’s now had four days of rest for tonight’s tip.
-- Fatigue should definitely come into play tonight, especially for the starters. The Lakers’ Bryant and Lamar Odom both played over 50-plus minutes, while the Suns’ Shawn Marion posted 50 minutes.
-- If anybody says that officials don’t play a factor in sporting events, then take a sneak peek at these numbers.
-- In this series and I would guess most, if you get the calls, it certainly helps you in the long run. Whoever gets to the stripe more, apparently will win the game.
-- Tip off for this contest is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EST, with TNT providing national coverage.
-- Sticking with TNT, how badly do you want to rip up your ticket when Charles Barkley says, “Phoenix has no shot to win this game”?
-- The winner of this series will face the L.A. Clippers in the second round.
