NBA Game Summary - LA Lakers at Phoenix

Phoenix, AZ (Basketball News) - Tim Thomas scored 22 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as the Phoenix Suns won the opener of their Western Conference quarterfinal matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, 107-102, at the US Airways Center.

Thomas shot a solid 8-of-10 from the floor, including 4-of-5 from three-point range, and Steve Nash added 20 points while handing out 10 assists for the Suns.

Five Phoenix players finished in double figures, as Shawn Marion scored 19 points while Boris Diaw and Leandro Barbosa each added 15.

Game 2 of this best-of-seven series is scheduled for Wednesday in Phoenix.

Kobe Bryant started slow but finished with 22 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Lakers. However, the star guard shot just 7-of-21 from the floor and 1-of-6 from three-point range.

Kobe made only 2-of-7 from the floor in the opening half.

Lamar Odom contributed 21 points and 14 boards while Luke Walton added 19 points for Los Angeles, which never led by more than two points in the game.

Midway through the fourth, Bryant hit on 1-of-2 from the free throw line to make it 90-85 with 5:36 to go. However, Thomas countered with a three, his fourth of the game, to put the Suns ahead 93-85.

A three from Barbosa later extended Phoenix to a 98-89 edge with 3:44 remaining in the fourth. However, the Lakers ran off six in a row to get within three at 98-95 before Nash netted a three from the right corner with 1:07 left to put the Suns up six.

Odom missed a three at the other end out of a timeout, but Smush Parker grabbed the offensive board and converted the putback with under a minute left to get the Lakers within four.

However, Marion put the Suns back up six, 103-97, after a set of free throws with 22 ticks left. Bryant answered with a long three with 17 seconds left, and the Lakers fouled Nash with 15 ticks to go.

Nash connected on both free shots and Parker missed a shot on the other end for Los Angeles. Brian Cook was called for a loose ball foul on the miss and Phoenix’s Raja Bell hit 1-of-2 from the line to make it 106-100 with nine seconds remaining.