Lakers try to even first-round series with Suns

In the series opener, Leandro Barbosa came off the bench and erupted for 26 points to match his career playoff high and lead the Suns past the Lakers, 95-87, on Sunday at US Airways Center.

Amare Stoudemire, who missed last year’s postseason due to injury, added 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Suns, who trailed by nine points at halftime and outscored the Lakers 21-10 in the final quarter.

Reigning MVP Steve Nash had a solid all-around game with 20 points and 10 assists for Phoenix, while Shawn Marion contributed 16 points and 16 rebounds in the victory.

Superstar Kobe Bryant poured in 39 points on 15-of-33 shooting from the field for the Lakers. Bryant had a tremendous first half with 28 points. Lamar Odom finished with 17 points and 16 boards for Los Angeles.

Game 3 of this best-of-seven series is scheduled to be played on Thursday at the Staples Center.

Phoenix has dropped five straight Game 2s in the postseason, while the Lakers have won two in a row.

There is a lot of playoff history between the Lakers and Suns, as these teams have met 10 times in the postseason. The Lakers have won seven of the 10 series, while the clubs have split four meetings in first round.

The Lakers knocked out the Suns in the opening round of the playoffs in 1970 and 1985, while Phoenix eliminated LA in 1993 and 2006. The Lakers won semifinal series over the Suns in 1980, 1982 and 2000 and conference final sets in 1984 and 1989.

Besides their first round wins over LA in 1993 and 2006, the Suns also picked up a playoff series win over the Lakers in the 1990 conference semifinals.

Last season, the Lakers blew a 3-1 lead in the first round against Phoenix. They fell in seven contests and were eliminated in the opening round for the first time since 1996, when they lost in four games, 3-1, to the Houston Rockets.

The Suns, who won their third straight Pacific Division title during the regular season, have been eliminated in the Western Conference finals two consecutive years. Phoenix lost in six games to the San Antonio Spurs in 2005, and fell in six last year to the Dallas Mavericks.

The last time the Suns were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs was in 2002-03, when they lost to San Antonio in six games, 4-2.

Bryant has made his second trip to the postseason without All-Star center Shaquille O’Neal, who was traded to Miami in July 2004, by his side. A nine- time All-Star, Bryant is still trying to prove that he can carry a team solo in the postseason.

The 28-year-old Bryant won three championships with O’Neal and head coach Phil Jackson (1999, 2000, 2001). Jackson has won nine championship rings as a coach. He led the Lakers to three titles in his first four years in LA, and guided the Chicago Bulls to six championships.