2010 NBA Playoffs: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns, Western Conference Finals, Game 3

Information about game 3 of the L.A. Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns series in the 2010 NBA Playoffs, with score, recap, pictures, stats, highlights, quotes and Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol performance.

Los Angeles Lakers

2010 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns

 Phoenix Suns

Series Index:

Game 1: Lakers 128, Suns 107 at Los Angeles   Game recap & pictures
Game 2: Lakers 124, Suns 112 at Los Angeles   Game recap & pictures
Game 3: Suns 118, Lakers 109 at Phoenix Game recap & pictures
Game 4: Suns 115, Lakers 106 at Phoenix   Game recap & pictures
Game 5: Lakers 103, Suns 101 at Los Angeles   Game recap & pictures
Game 6: Lakers 111, Suns 103 at Phoenix   Game recap & pictures

Back to Playoffs 2010

Los Angeles Lakers 2 - 1 Phoenix Suns

GAME 3: L.A. Lakers 109 - Phoenix Suns 118
Leaders Points Rebounds Assists
Lakers Bryant: 36 Gasol: 9 Bryant: 11
Suns Stoudemire: 42 Stoudemire: 11 Nash: 15
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Tot
LAL 32 15 37 25 109
PHO 29 25 32 32 118
click for Lakers 2010 Playoff pictures (LA Daily News), Western Conference Finals vs. Phoenix Suns Game 3
Picture Gallery (LAT)

May 23 - Phoenix. Kobe Bryant had 36 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists but it didn't matter because nobody could stop Amare Stoudemire who led the Suns to a 118-109 win at Phoenix to give life to this Western Conference Finals.

Kobe's almost triple double wasn't enough mainly because what was the Lakers strength in the first two games was their weakness in game 3: the interior game. Andrew Bynum, playing with physical limitations got into early foul trouble and played just 8 minutes. Lamar Odom had one of those games, was ineffective and was fouled out and Pau Gasol who ended with 23 points and 9 rebounds had to deal with an unstoppable Stoudemire who finally appeared for the Suns with 42 points and 11 rebounds and center Robin Lopez who did a good job and added h 20 points and strong defense.

And defense was the key of the game for the Suns. They started absurdly defending Kobe one-on-one and he was making almost ever shot going 7-for-9 in the first quarter for 15 points. But then they switched to zone defense, it really worked and they used it the rest of the way. The Lakers couldn't throw the ball inside as much as they would have wanted and settled for 3-pointers, attempting 32 of them and making just 9. The Suns keep struggling with their long distance shots, but they were so aggressive attacking the basket that got 42 free throws (made 37) while the Lakers only went to the line 20 times.

Phil Jackson said he will consider not playing Bynum in game 4 to give his knee some rest.

The Quotes

Phil Jackson (LAL Coach): "We certainly didn't come out to play the way I wanted, and we certainly didn't play the way I wanted at the end." "They attacked the hoop today and, you know, earned 42 foul shots. That's really the game plan. We seemed to be staying home on the 3-point shooters, and Stoudemire and Lopez had a night for them." About Bynum: "I'll talk to him and see how he feels about it (not playing in game 4). I think he was ineffective. There were some things that got by him."

Kobe Bryant (Lakers): "You expect them to have a breakout game at some point in the series"

Alvin Gentry (Suns Coach): "When they started making shots, we had to go to the zone. Tonight it worked and we stuck with it."

Amare Stoudemire (Suns): "You can never question my determination, my focus, my dedication. That's one of the reasons I've persevered through injuries and continue to try to improve every summer. My dedication to the game is at an all-time high."

Highlights

Los Angeles Lakers Phoenix Suns
Leaders: Pts Reb Ast St Bl More
Kobe Bryant 36 9 11 1 1 5 TO
Pau Gasol 23 9 2 - 1  
Derek Fisher 18 5 3 1 -  
Ron Artest 12 6 - - -  
Lamar Odom 10 6 2 - 2  
Leaders: Pts Reb Ast St Bl More
A. Stoudemire 42 11 - 1 1  
Robin Lopez 20 3 - 1 -  
Jason Richardson 19 3 - 1 -  
Steve Nash 17 2 15 - -  
Goran Dragic 6 1 1 1 -  

Complete Boxscore

LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Starters Min FG 3P FT Off Def Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF +/- Pts 
Ron Artest, SF 41 4-13 2-7 2-2 1 5 6 0 0 0 2 3 -8 12
Pau Gasol, PF 45 11-14 0-0 1-2 2 7 9 2 0 1 1 3 -7 23
Andrew Bynum, C 8 1-1 0-0 0-1 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 4 -5 2
Kobe Bryant, SG 43 13-24 2-8 8-8 2 7 9 11 1 1 5 3 -12 36
Derek Fisher, PG 38 6-11 3-6 3-3 1 4 5 3 1 0 2 5 -9 18
Bench Min FG 3P FT Off Def Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF +/- Pts 
Lamar Odom, PF 35 4-14 0-4 2-4 2 4 6 2 0 2 3 6 -9 10
Josh Powell, C 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -2 0
Shannon Brown, PG 20 2-7 1-5 0-0 1 2 3 1 1 2 2 3 +7 5
Jordan Farmar, PG 10 1-3 1-2 0-0 0 1 1 1 1 0 2 1 0 3
Luke Walton, SF DNP COACH'S DECISION
Sasha Vujacic, SG DNP COACH'S DECISION
D.J. Mbenga, C DNP COACH'S DECISION
Totals 42-87 9-32 16-20 9 32 41 20 4 6 17 28   109
Percentages:   48.3% 28.1% 80.0%
PHOENIX SUNS
Starters Min FG 3P FT Off Def Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF +/- Pts 
Grant Hill, SF 29 1-4 1-1 2-2 0 9 9 3 3 1 1 3 +14 5
Amare Stoudemire, PF 42 14-22 0-0 14-18 3 8 11 0 1 1 2 3 +14 42
Robin Lopez, C 30 8-10 0-0 4-4 1 2 3 0 1 0 0 3 +19 20
Steve Nash, PG 38 5-10 0-1 7-7 0 2 2 15 0 0 1 2 +13 17
Jason Richardson, SG 36 7-15 4-7 1-1 0 3 3 0 1 0 0 2 +17 19
Bench Min FG 3P FT Off Def Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF +/- Pts 
Channing Frye, C 18 0-7 0-5 1-1 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 2 -9 1
Leandro Barbosa, SG 12 0-4 0-2 2-2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 -8 2
Louis Amundson, C 6 1-2 0-0 0-0 3 1 4 0 0 0 1 1 -5 2
Jared Dudley, SF 19 1-4 0-2 2-2 1 3 4 0 3 0 0 1 -6 4
Goran Dragic, PG 10 1-4 0-2 4-5 1 0 1 1 1 0 2 1 -4 6
Jarron Collins, C DNP COACH'S DECISION
Earl Clark, F DNP COACH'S DECISION
Totals 38-82 5-20 37-42 10 30 40 19 10 2 7 21   118
Percentages: 46.3% 25.0% 88.1%

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