The Lakers cruised to their best record all season (eight games over .500) with a late sprint ahead of the Suns yesterday, reports AP. Kobe Bryant unwrapped a productive game with 38 points and seven assists, helped out by Andrew Bynum's 28 points on 11-of-13 shooting, and the Lakers prevailed, 122-115.
For the Suns, Steve Nash led the charge with 24 points and 14 assists, which kept the score close for three quarters. Six other Phoenix players scored in the double digits, but tanking free-throw percentages let the Lakers seize the advantage and hold it through the final hard-fought quarters. (More NBA stories.)