National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
L.A. Lakers 139, Phoenix 137
When: 10:30 PM ET, Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Officials: #72 Kevin Cutler, #52 Pat Fraher, #57 Greg Willard
Attendance: 18997

Kobe Bryant had 42 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists and Lamar Odom had 29 points and 16 boards as the Los Angeles Lakers earned a thrilling, hard-fought 139-137 victory in triple overtime against the visiting Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.

The game matched a pair of triple-overtime affairs involving the New Jersey Nets as the longest game this season and was the highest-scoring contest of the campaign.

The Lakers (51-20) are 13-1 since the All-Star break and have won seven in a row at home.

Grant Hill's 3-pointer from the right side with 31 seconds left pulled Phoenix into a 112-112 tie, sending the game to overtime.

The teams exchanged baskets before Ron Artest made a 25-footer from the left side with 1:27 remaining for a 119-116 lead. Derek Fisher's two free throws made it 121-118, but Odom fouled Channing Frye on a 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left, and Frye sank all three free throws to force a second OT.

Frye gave Phoenix a 130-128 lead with a 3-pointer with 52 seconds left. Pau Gasol made two free throws with 2.5 seconds left after Bryant saved the ball from going out of bounds.

In the third overtime, Bryant drilled a 3-pointer before Artest pickpocketed Steve Nash for a steal and dunk and a 135-132 lead, then sank a running leaner. Frye made another 3-pointer, but Bryant gave the Lakers a 139-135 lead with an ill-advised runner with 14 seconds left.

Frye had a career-high 32 points and 14 rebounds for the Suns (35-34). Nash had 19 points and 20 assists and Marcin Gortat had 24 points and 16 rebounds.

As he often has this season, Odom started for center Andrew Bynum, who served the second of a two-game suspension for a flagrant foul.

The Lakers looked like they would breeze to victory, taking an 89-68 lead with 4 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter, but had to endure one of their toughest games of the season.

Gasol had 24 points and 13 rebounds.

Top Game Performances
 
Phoenix   L.A. Lakers
Channing Frye 32 Scoring Kobe Bryant 42
Steve Nash 20 Assists Kobe Bryant 9
Marcin Gortat 16 Rebounds Lamar Odom 16
Marcin Gortat 6 Free Throws Made Kobe Bryant 9
Vince Carter 1 Steals Derek Fisher 4
Marcin Gortat 2 Blocks Pau Gasol 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Phoenix 137 48.1 17-41 18-22 34 52 5 3 13
L.A. Lakers 139 44.2 11-27 22-25 30 56 5 10 9
Upcoming Games
  • L.A. Lakers will play their next game at home against L.A. Clippers. The Lakers have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.
  • Phoenix will play their next game at home against Toronto. The Suns have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.