2010 NBA Playoffs: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns, Western Conference Finals, Game 5
Information about game 5 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.
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May 27 - Staples Center, Los Angeles. Ron Artest's offensive night was being awful, 2 points on 1-for-8 shooting, until he appeared from nowhere to catch Kobe's miss and bank a buzzer-beater to give L.A. a 103-101 win and a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference Finals. Kobe Bryant had control of the game with 30 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 blocks, Derek Fisher was the leader early in the game when the team couldn't find the offense and ended with 22 points and Pau Gasol added 21 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists for the Lakers who led by as many as 18, 74-56 with 3:44 left in the third quarter. But the Suns never gave up and slowly reduced the deficit to set the stage for a thrilling ending. Steve Nash netted the final 2 of his 29 points to make it 98-101 with 1:21 remaining. Artest missed a jumper but Gasol grabbed the offensive rebound and with 56 seconds left gave it back to Artest who instead of running down the clock attempted a three-pointer (and missed) which Phil Jackson dissaproved in the next timeout. Later after Channing Frye missed a three and Gasol a dunk the Suns had 3 opportunities to tie it on the same play until Jason Richardson finally banked a lucky three-pointer with 3.5 seconds left. Then Kobe took a forced shot that missed everything except Artest hands who saved his night and erased the Suns overtime hopes. |
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The QuotesPhil Jackson (LAL Coach):"I don't know why I left him in the game, I actually questioned it myself when I put him out there on the floor, and there he was. Made the key play." Kobe Bryant (Lakers): "It means a lot for him, I think for him emotionally, it's a big boost. ... Once I released the ball, I saw Ron sneaking in. I was just hoping that he got it off in time." Lamar Odom (Lakers): "His whole methods since we were small is, 'I'm going to outwork you, I'm going to bang you until you don't want no more. His stubbornness is the reason why he took that 3, because he just missed one. That's part of his game, that's why he's a great player, and that's why he's a great defender. It's just something you have to live with." (Odom played AAU ball with Artest in their New York youth) Ron Artest (Lakers): "I wasn't playing my game from the beginning, In the second half, I was finding my way a little bit, made some good passes and good steals and got some rebounds. So I guess that aggressive play can carry over into that last possession." "I thought Kobe got fouled on the shot, so I figured it was going to be short, and it was a little short." Steve Nash (Suns): "Everything is OK, we can't knock a great effort. Maybe we deserved this game, maybe we didn't. They held home court. We'll go back and do the same, and we'll come back here for Game 7." Alvin Gentry (Suns Coach): "We just didn't quite finish the game. I have no complaints. They played great. We hung in. We did a great job against Kobe on the last shot, just didn't come up with the rebound. To me, it's a great effort by us, and they know we're not going to go away." |
Highlights
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Complete Boxscore
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